France becomes first country to make abortion a constitutional right

France on Monday created history by becoming the first country to make abortion a constitutional right. This initiative was endorsed by legislators in the French parliament who voted 780 votes to 72 votes, achieving the required three-fifths threshold to amend the French constitution to confirm abortion rights.

This move comes after the US Supreme Court had overturned the Roe v. Wade verdict that acknowledged abortion rights. Post the overturning of Roe v. Wade, a movement was started in France to secure abortion rights as a constitutional right. The final phase of the parliamentary process was the voting on Monday, which occurred at the Palace of Versailles, southwest of Paris, during a special gathering of lawmakers. The bill was passed earlier this year by a majority by the French National Assembly and Senate.

According to the amendment, abortion is now a guaranteed freedom in France. This move is being hailed as historic by lawmakers and activism groups who supported legislation for the protection of abortion rights at a time when abortion rights are axed in the US and around different parts of the world.

After the results of the votes were made public, ‘My body, My choice’ was illuminated on the Eiffel Tower. Prime Minister Gabriel Attal stated that MPs owed women who had previously been compelled to undergo illegal abortions a “moral debt.”  “Above all, we’re sending a message to all women: your body belongs to you,” Attal said. French President Emmanuel Macron said the government would hold a formal ceremony celebrating the amendment’s passage on Friday, International Women’s Rights Day, CNN reported. 

France first legalised abortion in the 1970’s after a campaign led by then-Health Minister Simone Veil, an Auschwitz survivor who became one of the country’s most famous feminist icons. According to the CNN, unlike in the US, abortion is not a divisive issue in France and is majorly supported by the people. Even the legislators who opposed the amendment did so because they felt that the measure was unnecessary given the wide support and not because of opposition to abortion.

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