France has etched a historic chapter in reproductive rights, firmly establishing abortion as a constitutional right.
The French lawmakers on Monday gave overwhelming approval to a bill that guarantees a woman’s right to choose abortion.
This decision was proposed by president Emmanuel Macron and aims to protect abortion rights from being rolled back.
The bill received a 780-72 overwhelming vote which was followed by a standing ovation when the result was announced.
However anti-abortion groups have strongly criticised the change, as has the Vatican.
Abortion has been legal in France since 1975, but polls show around 85% of the public supported amending the constitution to protect the right to end a pregnancy.
And while several other countries include reproductive rights in their constitutions – France is the first to explicitly state that an abortion will be guaranteed.
It becomes the 25th amendment to modern France’s founding document, and the first since 2008.
Following the vote, the Eiffel Tower in Paris was lit up in celebration, with the message: “My Body My Choice”.
Before the vote, Prime Minister Gabriel Attal told parliament that the right to abortion remained “in danger” and “at the mercy of decision makers”.
“We’re sending a message to all women: your body belongs to you and no one can decide for you,” he added.
Since 1975 the law has been updated nine times – and on each occasion with the aim of extending access.
The constitutional change was prompted by recent developments in the US, where the right to abortion was removed by the Supreme Court in 2022. Individual states are now able to ban the procedure again, ending the right to an abortion for millions of women.
The move to enshrine abortion in the French constitution has been welcomed by many.
But not all support it, with the Vatican repeating its opposition to abortion.
“There can be no ‘right’ to take a human life,” the Vatican institution said in a statement, echoing concerns already raised by French Catholic bishops.