StudentsOnWaves: Free Abortion for Ukrainian Women
Donation protected
Emergency Abortion Alliance: Fundraiser for Ukrainian Refugees
We are Sara, Renée, Lia, Lotte, Phoebe and Isabella, Leiden University and Erasmus University students based in The Hague and Rotterdam. Three of us have recently taken part in a Humanitarian Mission for the Emergency in Ukraine, volunteering at the Medyka Border Camp. Here, we got a glimpse of the traumas Ukrainian women are facing, rape being one of them.
We reached out to Rebecca Gomperts, founder of the Dutch NGO Women On Waves who aims to prevent unsafe abortions and empower women to exercise their human rights to physical and mental autonomy. In light of the current crisis in Ukraine, Women on Web (WOW)(extension of Women on Waves) is donating free services to any Ukrainian refugees in need of abortion. WOW is collaborating with activists and organizations on the ground in neighbouring countries. They are currently working with groups to hand out information and to distribute abortion pills to areas they know are experiencing shortages. WOW have also started working with the Martynka helpline in Poland, who are assisting refugees in Ukraine to access emergency contraception, counselling, and now abortion pills. Currently, WOW receives up to five requests a day and they expect that to rise even more as we increase our collaborative efforts in the area.
Growing evidence of sexual violence has emerged from areas retaken from retreating Russian forces. Ukrainian women who have experienced sexual assault by Russian soldiers and have fallen pregnant, but also women who do not want to be pregnant due to other reasons, are seeking ways to access safe abortions. Unfortunately, there is a big obstacle standing in their way: Poland imposed a near total-ban on abortion, only making exemptions in cases of rape, incest or when the woman's life is in danger. In the case of rape, a criminal investigation needs to be conducted in order to be eligible for a legal abortion. Rape and sexual assault are internationally recognized as constituting war crimes and breaching international humanitarian law; however, it is nearly impossible to provide the demanded criminal evidence in due time given the ongoing situation in Ukraine.
The result is that Ukrainian women who escaped Russia’s war on Ukraine are now facing Poland’s war on women. As we are six female students and human rights advocates, we feel compelled to help these women to the best of our ability.
Abortion pills are a safe, effective option for terminating a pregnancy up to 12 weeks and are an essential healthcare service, one that is especially crucial in times of war. If you wish to help us increase the efforts of Women On Web in helping Ukrainian refugees gain safe abortion access, please consider donating! All contributions, big or small, are greatly appreciated and will help these women in need.
Thank you all.
Warm regards,
Sara, Renée, Lotte, Lia, Phoebe and Isabella
We are Sara, Renée, Lia, Lotte, Phoebe and Isabella, Leiden University and Erasmus University students based in The Hague and Rotterdam. Three of us have recently taken part in a Humanitarian Mission for the Emergency in Ukraine, volunteering at the Medyka Border Camp. Here, we got a glimpse of the traumas Ukrainian women are facing, rape being one of them.
We reached out to Rebecca Gomperts, founder of the Dutch NGO Women On Waves who aims to prevent unsafe abortions and empower women to exercise their human rights to physical and mental autonomy. In light of the current crisis in Ukraine, Women on Web (WOW)(extension of Women on Waves) is donating free services to any Ukrainian refugees in need of abortion. WOW is collaborating with activists and organizations on the ground in neighbouring countries. They are currently working with groups to hand out information and to distribute abortion pills to areas they know are experiencing shortages. WOW have also started working with the Martynka helpline in Poland, who are assisting refugees in Ukraine to access emergency contraception, counselling, and now abortion pills. Currently, WOW receives up to five requests a day and they expect that to rise even more as we increase our collaborative efforts in the area.
Growing evidence of sexual violence has emerged from areas retaken from retreating Russian forces. Ukrainian women who have experienced sexual assault by Russian soldiers and have fallen pregnant, but also women who do not want to be pregnant due to other reasons, are seeking ways to access safe abortions. Unfortunately, there is a big obstacle standing in their way: Poland imposed a near total-ban on abortion, only making exemptions in cases of rape, incest or when the woman's life is in danger. In the case of rape, a criminal investigation needs to be conducted in order to be eligible for a legal abortion. Rape and sexual assault are internationally recognized as constituting war crimes and breaching international humanitarian law; however, it is nearly impossible to provide the demanded criminal evidence in due time given the ongoing situation in Ukraine.
The result is that Ukrainian women who escaped Russia’s war on Ukraine are now facing Poland’s war on women. As we are six female students and human rights advocates, we feel compelled to help these women to the best of our ability.
Abortion pills are a safe, effective option for terminating a pregnancy up to 12 weeks and are an essential healthcare service, one that is especially crucial in times of war. If you wish to help us increase the efforts of Women On Web in helping Ukrainian refugees gain safe abortion access, please consider donating! All contributions, big or small, are greatly appreciated and will help these women in need.
Thank you all.
Warm regards,
Sara, Renée, Lotte, Lia, Phoebe and Isabella
Organizer and beneficiary
Renee Elliott
Organizer
The Hague
Lia Venini
Beneficiary