France becomes first country to enshrine abortion rights in constitution
Paris lawmakers vote in historic amendment
Lawmakers sit on Monday prior to a vote on whether to add the freedom to have an abortion to the French constitution.
Paris — France has become the world’s first country to constitutionally enshrine abortion rights. The historic amendment comes in direct response to the US Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade.
Overwhelming support in French Parliament
French lawmakers from both houses of parliament voted 780 to 72 in favor of the measure. The three-fifths majority needed to amend the constitution was easily achieved, marking a significant victory for reproductive rights in the country.
A culmination of long-standing support
The recent vote at the Palace of Versailles was the final step in the legislative process. The French Senate and the National Assembly had previously and overwhelmingly approved the amendment, demonstrating widespread support for reproductive rights.
Guaranteed freedom for French women
The amendment guarantees the freedom to have an abortion in France. However, some groups and lawmakers had called for stronger language explicitly labeling abortion as a “right.”
Global significance in the light of current challenges
Lawmakers hailed the amendment’s passage as a milestone in the fight for reproductive rights globally. It serves as a powerful message of support for women’s rights at a time when abortion is under threat in the United States and in certain European countries, such as Hungary, where far-right parties have gained power.
The Eiffel Tower lights up with the message “my body my choice” after the vote on Monday.
Long-overdue justice for women
French Prime Minister Gabriel Attal emphasized the moral debt owed to women who were forced to endure illegal abortions in the past. The amendment is an important step in acknowledging women’s bodily autonomy and sending a powerful message that their bodies belong to them.
Celebrations and formal ceremony
French President Emmanuel Macron announced that a formal ceremony celebrating the amendment’s passage will be held on International Women’s Rights Day, which falls on Friday.
Context and global reminder
The amendment’s passage serves as a reminder of the global significance of ensuring and protecting fundamental rights. French Justice Minister Eric Dupond-Moretti noted that no democracy, even the largest one, is immune to the potential erosion of such rights, as recent events in the United States have demonstrated.
A monumental constitutional decision
With the enactment of the abortion rights amendment, France has now made its 25th amendment to the constitution since the founding of the Fifth Republic in 1958, marking yet another important moment in the country’s constitutional history.
Image Caption: Protesters in favor of the abortion rights amendment.
Opposition from the Catholic Church
While the abortion rights amendment has received widespread support, the Catholic Church has expressed its opposition. The Pontifical Academy for Life, a Vatican body focusing on bioethics, stated that there can be no “right” to take human life in the era of universal human rights.
Strong support amid certain reservations
Public opinion in France regarding abortion is overwhelmingly in support of the procedure. Many lawmakers who voted against the amendment did so because they felt the measure was unnecessary, given the existing widespread support for reproductive rights.
Conclusion
France’s constitutional enshrinement of abortion rights is a landmark decision that sets an important precedent in the global fight for reproductive rights. The amendment’s passage marks a significant victory for women and their right to make decisions about their own bodies.
