France becomes first country to enshrine abortion rights in constitution, a reaction to rollback of protections in U.S.
France on Monday became the first country in the world to enshrine abortion rights in its constitution — an effort galvanized in response to the rollback of protections for reproductive freedoms in the United States.
The amendment passed by wide margins, 780-72, in the parliament. The right to an abortion has been protected by law in France since 1975, but polling had shown about 85% of the country backed adding language to the constitution to explicitly guarantee it.
“We’re sending a message to all women: your body belongs to you and no one can decide for you,” French Prime Minister Gabriel Attal said before the vote.
A crowd of thousands gathered at Le Parvis des Droits de l’Homme — or Human Rights Square — in Paris to watch the proceedings. When the amendment passed, the crowd erupted in cheers, and the Eiffel Tower lit up with twinkling lights while Beyoncé’s “Run the World (Girls)” blasted.
This is France’s first constitutional amendment since 2008.
