14 September 2004

On 14 September, the European Parliament asked the European Commission for an explanation of the actions of the Portuguese Government over its handling of the Dutch ship, Borndiep, belonging to the Dutch campaign group, "Women on Waves" banned by the Portuguese Government from entering Portuguese waters. This ship was invited to Portugal as part of an awareness raising campaign for women's reproductive health.

The group had intended to take the local women into international waters 12 miles away, where they would have been out of the reach of Portuguese laws, and offer the women abortion-inducing pills which are prohibited in Portugal.

Claude Moraes MEP, member of the European Parliament's Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and home Affairs said, "What is unclear in this situation is why the Portuguese Government banned the ship from entering Portuguese territorial waters. Whatever MEPs and the public feel about the issue of abortion and the related health needs of women, and there are divided opinions, it is clear that this is also an issue of the basic right to free movement within the EU. As a basic pillar of the Single area the EU has been building since its creation, the decision to prevent the free movement of the 'Women on Waves' is an issue we want the European Community to clarify urgently.

"Mary Honeyball MEP, a member of the Women's Rights Committee added,"

"I want to see women armed with a high level of sexual health education. Without the full range of information, women cannot make informed choices when it comes to their own sexual health. Denying access to sexual health education prevents real choice and is a denial of women's basic human rights."

Claude Moraes MEP and Mary Honeyball MEP wrote a joint letter to the European Parliament Magazine outlining their concerns. Click here to read the letter.

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