France has achieved the milestone of being the inaugural country to expressly enshrine the right to abortion within its constitution.
Parliamentarians have voted to amend the country’s 1958 constitution to officially safeguard women’s “guaranteed freedom” to undergo abortions.
With an overwhelming vote of 780-72, the parliament in Versailles erupted into a standing ovation upon the announcement of the result.
President Emmanuel Macron hailed the decision as a source of “French pride” and emphasized its significance as a “universal message.”
Despite strong criticism from anti-abortion groups and the Vatican, polls indicate that approximately 85% of the public supported the constitutional amendment to protect the right to terminate pregnancies.
While abortion has been legal in France since 1975, this amendment marks the first time a country explicitly states the guarantee of abortion in its constitution, distinguishing France as a pioneer in reproductive rights.
The amendment becomes the 25th alteration to modern France’s founding document and the first since 2008.
In celebration of the vote, the Eiffel Tower in Paris illuminated with the message: “My Body My Choice.”
Before the vote, Prime Minister Gabriel Attal emphasized the ongoing threat to the right to abortion, asserting that it remains “in danger” and “subject to the whims of decision-makers.”
“We are sending a clear message to all women: your body belongs to you, and no one else can make decisions for you,” he added.
Despite the absence of resistance from right-wing factions in parliament, President Macron faces accusations of manipulating the constitution for electoral purposes.
Critics argue that while the revision itself may not be inherently wrong, it is deemed unnecessary, with the president being accused of leveraging the cause to enhance his left-wing image.
Since 1975, the law has undergone nine revisions, each aimed at broadening access.
France’s constitutional council, responsible for assessing the constitutionality of laws, has never raised concerns.
In a 2001 decision, the council justified its approval of abortion by citing the principle of liberty outlined in the 1789 Declaration of the Rights of Man, which is technically part of the constitution.
Many legal experts argue that abortion was already recognized as a constitutional right.
The recent constitutional amendment in France, prompted by developments in the US where the Supreme Court revoked the right to abortion in 2022, has garnered widespread support. This change allows individual states to potentially ban abortions, thereby jeopardizing the reproductive rights of millions of women.
Many have embraced the decision to embed the right to abortion in the French constitution. Laura Slimani, representing the Fondation des Femmes rights group, expressed concern over the regression of abortion rights in the US and emphasized the necessity of safeguarding these rights in France.
“As a feminist activist and a woman, there is a profound emotional response to this issue,” she stated.
However, not all parties endorse this amendment. The Vatican reiterated its longstanding opposition to abortion, emphasizing the sanctity of human life.
“The act of taking a human life cannot be justified as a ‘right’,” stated the Vatican, echoing the concerns expressed by French Catholic bishops.
The Vatican urged governments and religious traditions worldwide to prioritize the protection of life in this era of history.
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