By Natalia Rueda 
The French Parliament approved Monday, March 4, to protect the right to abortion in its Constitution, updating a landmark law instituted in 1975 that legalized abortion in France. The approval of the amendment, which required a three-fifths majority in both chambers, was widely expected and received support from both the National Assembly and the Senate.
President Emmanuel Macron summoned the 925 deputies to a session for the approval of the constitutional reform. The reform was approved by a large majority, with 780 votes in favor and only 72 against.
The inclusion of “freedom of abortion” in the Constitution of the Fifth Republic is a major victory for women’s rights in France. It demonstrates the country’s unwavering support for the procedure and shows French society’s firm stance on reproductive rights. This monumental decision was met with great enthusiasm from the public, and numerous IFOP polls showed that 86% of French citizens were in favor of its inclusion in the Constitution.
Initially, there were those who questioned the need to protect the right to abortion in the Constitution, as it had been legal and widely accessible to women in France since 1975. However, this update serves as a guarantee and a symbolic gesture of the country’s continued support for women’s reproductive rights. France has once again proven to be a leader in defending women’s autonomy and their right to choose over their own bodies.
With information from DW