Women in the Netherlands have campaigned for decades for the right to self-determination and proper access to abortion, with a major turning point being the founding of the action group Wij Vrouwen Eisen in 1974. This group formulated three central demands: abortion from the penal code, inclusion of abortion in the health insurance package and full decision-making power for the woman herself. How did the group form, how did they organise themselves and what was the impact?
Women in the Netherlands have campaigned for decades for the right to self-determination and proper access to abortion, with a major turning point being the founding of the action group Wij Vrouwen Eisen in 1974. This group formulated three central demands: abortion from the penal code, inclusion of abortion in the health insurance package and full decision-making power for the woman herself. How did the group form, how did they organise themselves and what was the impact?
The action group Wij vrouwen eisen (We Women Demand) emerged from Dolle Mina's abortion group. By setting up local committees and broad public campaigns, they managed to create national support. They also showed solidarity with abortion rights in other countries and joined the international struggle. Although the Termination of Pregnancy Act was passed in 1981, the action group remained critical because of the law's limitations. This led to follow-up actions and new initiatives such as Women on Waves.
Research: Wij Vrouwen Eisen and Dineke Stam
Camera and editing: PP Productions
Interview leader: Carine van Santen
