France Approves Landmark Constitutional Amendment Guaranteeing Right To Abortion

What is the Amendment?

The constitutional amendment, backed by 267 votes to 50, seeks to embed the freedom to resort to voluntary termination of pregnancy into Article 34 of the French constitution. This article empowers the Parliament to establish rules in various domains, including civil rights, criminal justice systems, and electoral laws.

The initiative comes in response to the U.S. Supreme Court's 2022 decision to roll back reproductive rights, particularly the landmark decision of Roe v. Wade.

The bill faces a final approval in a special joint session of lawmakers on March 4. If approved with a three-fifths majority, the constitutional amendment will become effective without the need for a referendum. President Macron expressed his commitment to making women's freedom to resort to termination "irreversible" by inscribing it in the constitution.

What Are the Rules in France?

France has allowed legal abortion since 1975, permitting termination up to 14 weeks. The proposed amendment, while viewed by some as superfluous, is seen as a critical signal in the face of rising challenges to women's rights, particularly from far-right political groups across Europe.

The move could have a ripple effect across the European Union, where most countries offer abortion access in the first trimester. While Poland and Malta have de-facto bans, women's campaigners hope the French initiative might inspire other countries to strengthen abortion rights. The potential inclusion of abortion in the European Charter of Fundamental Rights is also under consideration.

Justice Minister Éric Dupond-Moretti hailed the vote as a "historic day" for France, positioning the country as the first in the world to protect women's freedom to decide through constitutional means.

Click Here To Read/Download Order