France makes abortion a constitutional right, becomes first country to do so
First Published: 5th March, 2024 8:46 IST
The proposal was approved by lawmakers in both chambers of the French Parliament, with a vote of 780 to 72 in favour, meeting the necessary three-fifths majority to change the
France became the first nation in the world to enshrine abortion rights in its constitution on Monday, according to CNN.
The proposal was approved by lawmakers in both chambers of the French Parliament, with a vote of 780 to 72 in favour, meeting the necessary three-fifths majority to change the French constitution.
Notably, after the US Supreme Court in 2022 reversed the Roe v. Wade ruling that recognised women’s constitutional right to abortion, a campaign was started in France to explicitly protect the right in its basic law.
The last stage of the parliamentary procedure was the voting on Monday, which took place at the Palace of Versailles, southwest of Paris, during a special assembly of legislators.
The legislation was overwhelmingly passed earlier this year by the French National Assembly and Senate.
According to the amendment, abortion is a “guaranteed freedom” in France.
Legislators and certain groups had pushed for tougher wording that would clearly designate abortion as a “right.”
Hailed by lawmakers as a historic step, the measure demonstrated France’s unwavering support for reproductive rights at a time when abortion rights are under attack in the US and in regions of Europe like Hungary where far-right parties are gaining ground, according to CNN.
“My body, my choice” was illuminated on the Eiffel Tower after the results of the vote.
Before the vote, 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 legalized abortion in 1975, after a campaign led by thenHealth Minister Simone Veil, an Auschwitz survivor who became one of the country’s most famous feminist icons.
According to CNN, while abortion is a highly divisive issue in US politics that often falls along party lines, in France it is widely supported. Many of the lawmakers who voted against the amendment did so not because they opposed abortion, but because they felt the measure was unnecessary, given the wide support for reproductive rights. (ANI)
COMMENTS
TOPMOST STORY NOW
Live Haflong-Silchar road disrupted due to heavy rain, temporarily restored
03rd May 2024Live ICC Rankings: Australia No. 1 in Tests, but India remain No. 1 in ODIs and T20Is
03rd May 2024Live Fake news alert: Notification claiming Assam HS results to be declared tomorrow is fake
03rd May 2024Live Property worth Rs 2.5 lakh destroyed after a massive fire gutted a shop in Assam’s Haflong
03rd May 2024WE RECOMMEND
Air India’s Airbus A350 marks International debut
The commencement of flights was celebrated with pre-departure ceremonies at both Delhi and Dubai airports, where guests were presented with A350 memorabilia.
02nd May 2024Russian missile attack claims 5 lives in Odesa, ‘Harry Potter castle’ engulfed
Tragically, among the injured were two children and a pregnant woman, underscoring the indiscriminate nature of the assault.
01st May 2024UK: 13-year-old boy killed, several others stabbed by sword-wielding man
The child, a 13-year-old boy, died after being taken to a hospital, Stuart Bell, a spokesman for the Metropolitan Police, said
30th April 2024Who are these kids announcing New Zealand’s T20 World Cup team?
Two children, a girl named Matilda and a boy named Angus announced the players shortlisted for the biennial event.
30th April 2024AstraZeneca admits its Covid-19 vaccine Covishield may cause rare side effects
In legal documents submitted to the UK High Court, AstraZeneca conceded that its vaccine "can, in very rare cases, cause TTS" which is a side effect known as Thrombosis with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome, characterised by blood clots and low platelet counts.
30th April 2024