The Prime Minister declares France’s unwavering support for defending women’s rights amidst global threats.
France is set to cement abortion as a constitutional right in an upcoming joint parliamentary session, following the Senate’s approval on Wednesday night.
The country aims to constitutionally protect women’s freedom to choose abortion.
French government officials, lawmakers, and senators contend that abortion rights require comprehensive constitutional safeguarding, particularly in light of recent threats in the US and across Europe.
The overturning of a 50-year-old ruling by the US Supreme Court in 2022, which previously guaranteed abortion, has prompted concerns among French senators and lawmakers. They argue that similar risks to abortion rights exist in Europe, citing countries like Hungary, Poland, Italy, and Spain.
Following a lengthy Senate debate on Wednesday, French Prime Minister Gabriel Attal asserted, “When women’s rights are under attack globally, France stands up and leads the way in progress.”
Echoing this sentiment, French Justice Minister Éric Dupond-Moretti described the vote as historic, emphasizing the freedom of women in the country and underscoring France’s commitment to this fundamental liberty.
Mélanie Vogel, a Green senator who championed the constitutional amendment, hailed it as a historic feminist triumph.
Similarly, Communist senator Ian Brossat emphasized the significance of the vote, predicting it would resonate as a victory for women worldwide.
The amendment to the French constitution is poised to secure the required three-fifths majority in a joint session of parliament scheduled for Monday, typically convened at the Palace of Versailles.
President Emmanuel Macron affirmed his commitment to ensuring the irreversible freedom of women to choose abortion, a promise he made.
Enshrining the right to abortion in the constitution is viewed as a measure to safeguard the law that decriminalized abortion in France back in 1975.
Socialist senator Laurence Rossignol contended that whenever far-right, ultra-conservative, populist nationalist movements gain traction, women’s rights become a primary target, regardless of the label they adopt.
Centrist senator Dominique Vérien expressed concern over the escalating influence of anti-abortion movements in France, highlighting incidents such as attacks on family planning centers and the dissemination of anti-abortion messages, including on public bicycles in Paris and through media channels like CNews. Vérien emphasized the need to acknowledge and counteract these movements to safeguard women’s freedom.
In 2022, the French parliament voted to extend the legal limit for terminating a pregnancy from 12 to 14 weeks. This decision was made in response to the plight of thousands of women who were compelled to seek abortions abroad each year due to restrictive laws, traveling to countries such as the Netherlands, Spain, or England.
