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France has become the first country in the world to include the right to abortion in its constitution.
The historic decision took place on the 4th March 2024, when the country’s parliamentarians voted the change France’s 1958 constitution to include women’s “guaranteed freedom” to abort.
The vote received an overwhelming 780-72 majority, which saw a standing ovation take place in the parliament of Versailles when the news was announced.
French President, Emmanuel Macron described the “French pride” of the result and the “universal message” it sent.
Outside of parliament, France celebrated the historic vote.
In Paris, the Eiffel tower lit up with the message, ‘My Body My Choice,’ while supporters of the change celebrated below.
While abortion has been legal in France since 1975, the country is the first in the world to explicitly state in the constitution that an abortion will be guaranteed.
Since 1975, the law has been updated nine times to give women more reproductive rights.
Despite this, before the vote took place, Prime Minister Gabriel Attal warned parliament that the right to abortion was still “in danger”.
“We’re sending a message to all women: your body belongs to you and no one can decide for you,” he said.
Polls show that around 85% of the French public supported the decision to amend the constitution but the vote didn’t come without its criticisers.
Anti-abortion groups were the main group to criticize the amendment, as well as the Vatican.
With reproductive rights under threat in the States, France has provided a beacon of hope for women everywhere.
