France becomes first country to make abortion а constitutional right

Today, French lawmakers in both houses of parliament voted 780 to 72 in favor of the measure, easily securing the three-fifths majority needed to amend the French constitution.

The amendment states that there is "guaranteed freedom" of abortion in France. Some groups and lawmakers, however, have called for stronger wording to explicitly call abortion a "right."

Lawmakers hailed the move as a historic way for France to send a clear signal of support for reproductive rights, as abortions are under threat in the United States as well as parts of Europe.

Prime Minister Gabriel Attal said before the vote that lawmakers have a "moral obligation" to women who have had to endure illegal abortions in the past.

"First of all, we're sending a message to all women: Your body belongs to you," says Attal.

Ban on abortion in different countries of the world

Currently, only 5 countries in the world have completely banned abortions. These are Nicaragua, the Dominican Republic, the Republic of El Salvador, Malta, and the Vatican. Only two of them are European.

In Poland, abortion is allowed if the pregnancy threatens the life and health of the woman, was the result of rape, or if the fetus has severe developmental defects.

In June 2022, the US Supreme Court overturned the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision that gave women the constitutional right to an abortion.

In Ukraine, abortion is allowed and can be performed upon legal request during the first 12 weeks of pregnancy without medical indications.

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