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France makes abortion constitutional right France makes abortion constitutional right
(about 1 hour later)
People gathered in Paris to watch abortion being constitutionalised France has become the first country in the world to explicitly include the right to abortion in its constitution.
France has become the first country in the world to put the right to abortion in its constitution.
Parliamentarians voted to revise the country's 1958 constitution to enshrine women's "guaranteed freedom" to abort.Parliamentarians voted to revise the country's 1958 constitution to enshrine women's "guaranteed freedom" to abort.
The overwhelming 780-72 vote saw a standing ovation in the parliament in Versailles when the result was announced.
President Emmanuel Macron described the move as "French pride" that had sent a "universal message".
The right to abortion has been enshrined in law since 1975, but polls show around 85% of the public supported amending the constitution to explicitly protect the right to end a pregnancy.
It becomes the 25th amendment to modern France's founding document, and the first since 2008.It becomes the 25th amendment to modern France's founding document, and the first since 2008.
Polls show around 85% of the public supported the reform. Before the vote, Prime Minister Gabriel Attal told parliament that the right to abortion remained "in danger" and "at the mercy of decision makers".
Prime Minister Gabriel Attal told parliament that the right to abortion remained "in danger" and "at the mercy of decision makers" before the vote. "We're sending a message to all women: your body belongs to you and no one can decide for you," he added.
"I am telling women, within our borders and beyond: The era of a world of hope is starting," he said at a rare parliamentary congress in Versailles.
Why Macron hopes abortion rights are a political winnerWhy Macron hopes abortion rights are a political winner
While resistance from right-wingers in parliament failed to materialise, President Emmanuel Macron has been accused of using the constitution for electoral ends. While resistance from right-wingers in parliament failed to materialise, President Macron has been accused of using the constitution for electoral ends.
Critics say the revision is not necessarily wrong in itself, but unnecessary, and accused the president trying to use the cause to boost his left-wing credentials. Critics say the revision is not necessarily wrong in itself, but unnecessary, and accused the president of trying to use the cause to boost his left-wing credentials.
In France, the right to abortion has been enshrined in law since 1975. Since 1975 the law has been updated nine times - and on each occasion with the aim of extending access.
Since then the law has been updated nine times - and on each occasion with the aim of extending access.
France's constitutional council - the body that decides on the constitutionality of laws - has never raised a query.France's constitutional council - the body that decides on the constitutionality of laws - has never raised a query.
In a 2001 ruling, the council based its approval of abortion on the notion of liberty enshrined in the 1789 Declaration of the Rights of Man, which is technically part of the constitution.In a 2001 ruling, the council based its approval of abortion on the notion of liberty enshrined in the 1789 Declaration of the Rights of Man, which is technically part of the constitution.
So many jurists say abortion was already a constitutional right.So many jurists say abortion was already a constitutional right.
The Eiffel Tower lit up with the message "My body My choice" after the vote
The constitutional change was prompted by recent developments in the US, where the right to abortion was removed by the Supreme Court in 2022. Individual states are now able to ban the procedure again, ending the right to an abortion for millions of women.The constitutional change was prompted by recent developments in the US, where the right to abortion was removed by the Supreme Court in 2022. Individual states are now able to ban the procedure again, ending the right to an abortion for millions of women.
The move to enshrine abortion in the French constitution has been welcomed by many.The move to enshrine abortion in the French constitution has been welcomed by many.
"At the moment of the vote, the Eiffel tower should sparkle and it will send a message to the world too. It's an important message for the world," said Anne-Cécile Mailfert, an activist for the Fondation des Femmes, a women's rights organisation. "This right (to abortion) has retreated in the United States. And so nothing authorised us to think that France was exempt from this risk," said Laura Slimani, from the Fondation des Femmes rights group.
"These emotions that fill us up today and really energise us, we would like to transmit them to other women and feminists in the world that fight for similar rights." "There's a lot of emotion, as a feminist activist, also as a woman," she said.
But not all have welcomed the vote, with the Vatican repeating its opposition to abortion. But not all support it, with the Vatican repeating its opposition to abortion.
"There can be no 'right' to take a human life," the Vatican institution said in a statement, echoing concerns already raised by French Catholic bishops."There can be no 'right' to take a human life," the Vatican institution said in a statement, echoing concerns already raised by French Catholic bishops.
It appealed to "all governments and all religious traditions to do their best so that, in this phase of history, the protection of life becomes an absolute priority".It appealed to "all governments and all religious traditions to do their best so that, in this phase of history, the protection of life becomes an absolute priority".
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EuropeEurope
AbortionAbortion
FranceFrance