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.

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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.