France Becomes First Country in the World to Enshrine Abortions as Women's Constitutional Right
The French Senate voted on Wednesday to enshrine access to abortion in the country's constitution. If the bill is approved by three-fifths of both chambers, as expected on Monday, France will become the first country in the world to constitutionally provide access to the procedure, France24 reports.
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President Emmanuel Macron's government has been pushing to amend Article 34 of the constitution to cite "the freedom of women to seek abortion, which is guaranteed."
In an explanation to the bill, the government noted that the changes were necessary after the abolition of abortion rights in the United States, where in 2022 the Supreme Court overturned the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision, which guaranteed access to the procedure across the country.
None of the main political parties represented in the French parliament questioned the morality of abortion, which was decriminalised in 1975. Most senators supported the constitutional amendment, although some conservatives criticised its wording.
Wednesday's vote came after the lower house, or National Assembly, overwhelmingly approved the proposal in January.
The lower house had approved enshrining the "right" to abortion in 2022, but some senators opposed the deadline. Last year, the Senate said it would agree to use the term "liberty" instead - after a lengthy debate, the government eventually settled on the expression "liberté garantie" as a compromise.
The constitutional amendments will require final approval by a three-fifths majority at a joint session of parliament, traditionally held in the Palace of Versailles.
After the Senate voted to approve it, the Elysee Palace said in a statement that Macron would summon lawmakers to Versailles on Monday to formalise the changes.
More than 95% of women in Europe live in countries that allow some access to abortion.
39 European countries have legalised abortion on request, albeit with some restrictions.
6 EU countries have strict restrictions. Only three (Andorra, Malta and San Marino) do not allow abortion at all.