Making Waves: Circumventing Domestic Law on the High Seas

This article provides an exploration of the attempt by Women on Waves, a Dutch organization, to circumvent domestic law in Ireland that prohibits abortions by providing abortions in international waters. The author examines the implications of the attempt with respect to questions of sovereignty, international law, and international human rights law governing reproductive rights. The article focuses in particular on the conflict between respect for the law of the sea and the possibility of asserting jurisdiction over a ship where abortions would be performed. The author concludes by suggesting that the high seas may be the next battleground for asserting reproductive rights in the 21st century. [Descriptors: Reproductive Rights - Abortion, International]