French Senate backs constitutional right to abortion

The French Senate has approved a constitutional amendment that would enshrine the right to abortion in the country’s constitution. The amendment, which was backed by a majority of senators, is seen as a major victory for women’s rights advocates in France.

Abortion has been legal in France since 1975, but supporters of the amendment argued that it was important to explicitly protect the right in the constitution to prevent future attempts to restrict access to abortion. The amendment would also guarantee access to contraception and sex education.

The French Senate’s approval of the amendment comes after months of debate and protests on both sides of the issue. The amendment will now go to the National Assembly for further consideration.

Many women’s rights activists and politicians have hailed the Senate’s decision as a milestone for reproductive rights in France. They say that enshrining the right to abortion in the constitution is an important step towards ensuring that women have control over their own bodies.

Opponents of the amendment, however, argue that it goes too far and could lead to a liberalization of abortion laws in France. They say that the decision to have an abortion should be left up to individual women and their doctors, rather than being enshrined in the constitution.

Overall, the French Senate’s backing of the constitutional right to abortion is a significant development in the ongoing debate over reproductive rights in France. The amendment is expected to face further scrutiny and debate before it becomes law.