France enshrines abortion rights in constitution

It became the first country to make abortion a constitutional right

France puts abortion rights in constitution
French lawmakers approved a constitutional amendment declaring abortion a "guaranteed freedom"
(Image credit: Mohamad Salaheldin Abdelg Alsayed / Anadolu via Getty Images)

What happened?

French lawmakers approved a constitutional amendment Monday declaring abortion a "guaranteed freedom." With the 780-27 vote, France became the first country to explicitly enshrine abortion rights in its constitution.

Who said what?

"We're sending a message to all women: Your body belongs to you, and no one can decide for you," Prime Minister Gabriel Attal said. French President Emmanuel Macron called the "new freedom" a mark of "French pride." In opposition, the Vatican said "there can be no 'right' to take a human life."

The commentary

Abortion, legal in France since 1975, is freely available through 14 weeks, and the French view it as "a basic public health service," not something "politically charged and highly divisive" like in the U.S., The New York Times said. Macron and the lawmakers behind the amendment called it a response to the U.S. Supreme Court striking down Roe v. Wade.

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What next?

Macron will sign the bill on Friday, International Women's Day, at a public ceremony. After that, future governments will not be able to drastically curtail abortion rights.

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Peter Weber, The Week US

Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.