'Women on Waves': A guide to the Dutch 'abortion ship'

A group of Dutch activists takes women from countries that outlaw abortion into international waters, where they're given safe access to the controversial procedure

"Women on Waves" advertises a hotline for safe abortions as it sails around a port in northern Morocco on Oct. 4.
(Image credit: AP Photo/Paul Schemm)

On Thursday, Moroccan authorities blocked a controversial Dutch ship that travels the world providing abortions and giving women information about safe ways to end pregnancies from entering the port of Smir. Abortion is illegal in Morocco, and the ship, led by a Dutch group called "Women on Waves," was boarded by police and escorted out of the harbor. This isn't the first time this "abortion ship" has caused a stir. Here, A guide to this group and its controversial mission:

What exactly is "Women on Waves"?

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