As the world celebrated International Women’s Day on Friday, France made history when the country amended its constitution to guarantee abortion rights, becoming the first country in the world to do so.
The landmark decision was celebrated in Paris with people from around the world attending the public ceremony at Place Vendome.
The amendment, which passed with a 780-72 vote earlier in the week, reflects France’s broad support for abortion as a public health issue rather than a political controversy. The move has been widely applauded by women’s rights advocates globally, especially in places where access to reproductive health services is restricted.
President Emmanuel Macron highlighted the significance of this amendment, seeing it as a “long fight for freedom” allowing women to control their own bodies.
He also suggested extending this right to the European Union’s charter, a proposal that could face opposition from EU members with strict abortion laws like Poland.
However, some critics argue that this measure might be a distraction from other pressing issues facing women in France, such as healthcare system challenges, gender-based violence, and disparities in pay and pensions.
Despite these concerns, many in France view the constitutional amendment as a crucial step forward for women’s rights.
Justice Minister Eric Dupond-Moretti used a historic press to officially include the abortion right in France’s 1958 Constitution. This action was inspired by the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in 2022 to overturn abortion rights, prompting France to safeguard these rights domestically to prevent a similar reversal.
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