Current location:travel >>
France guarantees right of abortion
travel2People have gathered around
IntroductionFrance made history on Monday by becoming the first country in the world to enshrine abortion rights ...
France made history on Monday by becoming the first country in the world to enshrine abortion rights in its constitution at a time when such rights are being challenged in the United States.
Of the 902 French lawmakers in an extraordinary voting session in Versailles outside Paris, the results were 780 in favor, 72 against and 50 abstentions, surpassing the 512 that were needed.
The measure had been passed in the past two months by both lower and upper houses, but final approval by a three-fifths majority in the joint session was needed to effect constitutional change.
French lawmakers welcomed the decision with thunderous applause on Monday and the iconic Eiffel Tower in Paris was illuminated on Monday evening to celebrate the decision.
The vote, enshrined in Article 34 of the French constitution, declares that "the law determines the conditions in which a woman has the guaranteed freedom to have recourse to an abortion".
The French constitutional amendment came after the US Supreme Court ruled in 2022 to overturn Roe versus Wade, a historic case in 1973 which protects the right to have an abortion in the US.
French Prime Minister Gabriel Attal told the joint session of the parliament on Monday that "it takes one generation, one year, one week for things to change drastically", pointing to "American women who must fight for abortion rights".
'Your body belongs to you'
"We're sending a message to all women: your body belongs to you and no one can decide for you," he said.
World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus applauded the decision.
"Safe #abortion is healthcare. We welcome #France's decision to secure women's rights and save their lives," he said on X.
"France just made history as the first country in the world to constitutionalize abortion rights! Reproductive rights are human rights," Human Rights Watch said in a message on X.
In France, women have had a legal right to abortion since a 1974 law. An IFOP poll in November 2022 showed that 81 percent of French people were favorable toward adding abortion access to the constitution.
But the Vatican said in a statement on Monday that "there can be no 'right' to take a human life", echoing concerns in some Catholic countries.
Abortion is still a major issue in some European Union countries. A 2020 court ruling in Poland led to a near-total ban on abortion.
Abortion is legal in Poland only if pregnancy results from sexual assault or incest, or threatens the life or health of the mother.
Far-right leader Marine Le Pen accused President Emmanuel Macron of using the issue to score political points.
"We will vote to include it in the constitution because we have no problem with that," she said ahead of the vote, adding that "no one is putting the right to abortion at risk in France".
Tags:
Reprint:Friends are welcome to share on the Internet, but please indicate the source of the article when reprinting it.“World Walkthrough news portal”。http://saotomeandprincipe.arnoldview.org/news-95f399835.html
Related articles
Garcia, Winker go deep as Nats end slide, beat struggling Twins 12
travelWASHINGTON (AP) — Luis García Jr. homered and drove in three runs, Eddie Rosario also had three RBIs ...
【travel】
Read moreChristchurch man jailed for 14 years over role in US porn videos
travelThe case was heard at a court in San Diego. Photo: Getty Images ...
【travel】
Read moreThe engineer designing needles to euthanise whales
travelBy Angela Heathcote, ABCRescuing whales can be stressful, but having the right tools makes the proce ...
【travel】
Read more
Popular articles
- Haiti’s international airport reopens after gang violence
- Climate activists demand Christchurch include cruise ship emissions in targets
- Millions of donkeys killed each year to make medicine
- Motorcyclist seriously injured after crash in Auckland
- Hundreds of hostages, mostly women and children, are rescued from Boko Haram extremists in Nigeria
- Judges sceptical of Trump's immunity claim in election subversion case
Latest articles
Hong Kong: Authorities will monitor internet platforms for non
Chilean vet helps dogs, cats and rabbits injured in wildfires
The engineer designing needles to euthanise whales
Scrapping NZ battery project 'short
Biden to release 1 million barrels of gasoline in bid to lower prices at pump
Otago councillors vote to delay notification of controversial land, water plan
LINKS
- Silver economy sees more talent, infrastructure support
- Florida center Micah Handlogten to sit out next season while recovering from a broken left leg
- Giannis Antetokounmpo ruled out, Khris Middleton to start for Bucks against Pacers in Game 3
- NFL to allow players to wear protective soft
- Uzbekistan knocks out titleholder Saudi Arabia in Under
- Retrial of Harvey Weinstein unlikely to occur soon, if ever, experts say
- Uzbekistan knocks out titleholder Saudi Arabia in Under
- Temporary farmworkers get more protections against retaliation and other abuses under new rule
- Salma Hayek shares rare photos from her wedding to Francois
- Trump promised big plans for Black and Latino voters. Republicans are waiting for them