France enshrines abortion in its constitution — RT World News
Lawmakers in Paris voted overwhelmingly to ratify the right to terminate a pregnancy
France responded to the decline in abortion rights in the United States by becoming the first country in the world to constitutionally guarantee women's ability to terminate their pregnancies.
Lawmakers voted in a joint session of both houses of Parliament on Monday to approve the constitutional amendment by a majority of 780 votes to 72 votes. The overwhelming approval came in the wake of President Emmanuel Macron's pledge last year to make the right to abortion available in France “Irreversible,” Protection from the type of restrictive measures imposed in some US states.
Members of the French Parliament have given it a long time A standing ovation After announcing the approval of the amendment. Macron said that the constitutional amendment will be included on March 8 on the occasion of International Women's Day during a ceremony held in Paris. Article 34 will be amended “Women's guaranteed freedom to resort to abortion.”
“Let us celebrate together the ushering in of a new freedom guaranteed by the Constitution in the first sealing ceremony in our history that is open to the public.” Macron said in a post on X (formerly Twitter). He described Monday's vote as an issue “French pride” And a “A global message.”
The right to abortion has been legally recognized in the United States as constitutionally protected for 50 years under the landmark Roe v. Wade ruling. However, the US Supreme Court overturned this decision in June 2022, enabling individual state legislatures to impose restrictions on termination of pregnancy. More than 20 US states have banned abortion or limited access to the procedure.
Abortion has been legal in France since 1974, allowing pregnancy to be terminated within 14 weeks of gestation. Opinion polls indicate that 80% of French adults support the constitutional amendment.
Before Monday's vote, Prime Minister Gabriel Attal urged lawmakers to approve the amendment. “We owe a moral debt to women.” He added that passing the law would be… “A victory for women's rights” he He cheered Vote in a social media post, saying, “Today, France sent a historic message to the whole world: women’s bodies belong to them, and no one has the right to dispose of them in their place.”
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