French Senate passes abortion constitutionalization, setting a global precedent.

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2024-03-04

France's Senate overwhelmingly passed a constitutional amendment on Thursday (2/29), incorporating women's right to abortion into the Constitution. This is the first country in the world to protect the freedom of abortion in the form of a constitution, rather than prohibiting abortion.

Since 1974, abortion has been legalized in France, but after the United States and Poland and other countries terminated the protection of abortion rights, the domestic demand for incorporating abortion rights into the Constitution has also increased. President Macron promised to incorporate abortion into the constitution on March 8, 2023.

According to a survey by the French Public Opinion Institute (IFOP) in November 2022, 86% of French people support listing abortion as a constitutional right. Despite opposition from some conservative members, the Senate (upper house) still supported the constitutional reform with 267 votes to 50.

French Justice Minister Eric Dupond-Moretti stated that France will make history and become the first country in the world to protect women's freedom to decide the fate of their children in the Constitution.