THE France it happened today first country in the world to explicitly include the right to abortion in its Constitutiona decision hailed as historic by women’s rights groups, though strongly criticized by other anti-abortion groups.

The right to abortion is widely accepted in France, compared to the US and many other countries, with polls showing around 80% of French people approve of it being legal.

“We are sending a message to all women: your body belongs to you and no one can decide for you,” Prime Minister Gabriel Atal told MPs and senators who met together at the Palace of Versailles outside Paris to approve this amendment to the Constitution.

MPs and senators approved with a very large majority (780 votes in favor, 72 against) the amendment of the Constitution proposed by the government.

President Emmanuel Macron hailed a “global message” after the vote. “Let’s celebrate together the inclusion of a new guaranteed freedom in the Constitution,” he wrote in a post on the X platform.

Abortion has been legal in France since 1974, although many had criticized this law at the time. The US Supreme Court’s 2022 ruling overturning Roe v. Wade, which recognized women’s constitutional right to abortion, has prompted many activists in France to push for their country to explicitly protect this right. right in its Constitution.

“That right is slipping away in the US. And nothing has convinced us that France is exempt from this risk,” said Laura Slimani of the Women’s Foundation. “I am very moved, as an activist and as a woman,” she added.

With today’s reform, in article 34 of the Constitution the phrase is inserted that “the law determines the conditions under which the woman has the guaranteed freedom to resort to termination of pregnancy”.

“France is in the vanguard,” said Yael Bron-Pivet, the president of the National Assembly, who comes from President Emmanuel Macron’s centrist party.

However, there was no lack of criticism.

Far-right leader Marine Le Pen said Macron was using the issue to his political advantage because of the right’s strong support for abortion rights. “We will vote for its inclusion in the Constitution because we have no problem with it,” he told reporters before the vote, but added that it was an exaggeration to call it a historic step because “no one is jeopardizing the right to abortion in France.”

Pascal Morinier, the president of the Catholic Families Association, said today’s vote was a defeat for abortion opponents. “It is also a defeat for women and, of course, for all the children who will not be born,” he added.