France enshrines abortion rights in constitution, setting global precedent

On that pivotal Monday, members from both chambers of the French parliament convened. Delegates from the National Assembly and the Senate came together, focusing their discussions on the vital topic of women's right to abortion, and agreed to weave it into the core framework of French law.

The opening speech of this significant session was delivered by Yael Braun-Pivet, the president of the National Assembly, who notably is the first woman to occupy this role. She addressed the session with compelling words: "To the women of France, we say we will never go back. To the women of the world, we say we will stand by you."

Throughout the discussions, Prime Minister Gabriel Attal reiterated France’s standing as a bedrock and innovator of women’s rights. He recognized the occasion as momentous, saying, "we are experiencing a historic moment," and acknowledged it as an act of redress towards those women who have been wronged by past governmental failings.

As the Associated Press highlighted, the congressional vote on Monday, March 4th, essentially served as a procedural step. The law pertaining to the integration of abortion rights into the constitution had already secured passage in the National Assembly in January, receiving strong bipartisan support (493 in favour to 30 against). The Senate followed suit on Wednesday, February 28th, with a vote of 267 in favour to 50 against.

This advancement fulfills a pledge made by French President, Emmanuel Macron. In October 2023, he announced plans for the constitutional bill to be reviewed by the Council of State and put forward to the government before year's end. This declaration met with criticism from Eric de Moulins-Beaufort, the President of the French Bishops' Conference, who contended that "abortion should not be seen purely as a matter of women's rights."

By enacting this law, France has distinguished itself as the pioneering country to recognize the right to abortion as fundamental. Notably, this initiative garnered backing even from segments of the right and far right, reflecting the widespread support for legal abortion access within the country. In fact, a recent survey indicated that more than 80% of participants advocate for the right to end a pregnancy.

The constitutional recognition of abortion rights was lauded on social media by Wanda Nowicka, a Deputy in the Polish Sejm and a fervent advocate for women's rights, who expressed a desire for Poland to permit abortions up to the 12th week of pregnancy.

"The French Senate's acknowledgement of abortion rights as constitutional elevates the legal safeguarding of abortion and women's rights to an unprecedented level. This is a crucially important decision amidst the global threats to women's reproductive rights, including in Poland. Bravo France!" Nowicka expressed on the X platform.

As reported by radiozet.pl, abortion became legal in France in 1975, spearheaded by a law drafted by the then Ministry of Health, led by Simone Veil. Presently, it is estimated that annually, between 700,000 to 800,000 women in France avail themselves of the option to terminate a pregnancy.