Paris: France has set out the following guaranteed rights: abortion Friday's constitution contains a strong message of support for women's rights. International Women's Day. Minister of Justice Eric Dupont-Moretti A 19th-century printing press was used to seal amendments to the French Constitution in a special public ceremony. The cobbled Place Vendôme filled with applause as France became the first country to explicitly guarantee this. abortion rights In the National Charter.
The bill was approved overwhelmingly by French lawmakers earlier this week, and Friday's events mean it can now come into force.
Abortion is a very divisive issue in the United States, but it is legal in almost all of Europe and is overwhelmingly supported in France. In France, abortion is viewed more as a public health issue than a political one. French lawmakers approved the constitutional amendments on Monday in a vote of 780 to 72, with support from many far-right lawmakers.
Friday's event in Paris was the centerpiece of a day focused on advancing women's rights globally. Marches, protests and meetings are taking place from Jakarta, Indonesia to Mexico City and beyond.
The French constitutional amendment was welcomed by women's rights advocates around the world, including in places where women struggle to access contraception or maternal health care. president of france Emmanuel Macron It said it was a direct result of the U.S. Supreme Court striking down long-standing abortion rights in 2022.
Macron's critics have questioned why he was pushing the bill in a country where there is no clear threat to abortion rights but where women face many other problems.
While some French women saw the move as a huge victory, others said that in reality, not all French women have access to abortion.
“It’s a smokescreen.” Arya Meroni32, spoke about the event.
“The government is destroying our health care system and many family planning clinics have closed,” she said at the annual Feminist Night March in Paris on the eve of International Women's Day.
In France, the rate of women murdered by their partners continues to be high, and difficulties remain in prosecuting sexual abuse of women by celebrities and other men. French women also have lower wages and pensions. This is especially true for non-white women.
Macron's government has told French women the abortion amendment is important to avoid a situation like the United States, as hard-line groups gain ground and seek to turn back the clock on freedoms across Europe.
Macron is scheduled to preside over the constitution-making ceremony. Justice Minister Eric Dupont-Moretti plans to use a 100-kilogram (220-pound) printing press from 1810 to engrave amendments to France's 1958 constitution.
This will include the phrase, 'Women's freedom to have an abortion is guaranteed.' This event will also be held outdoors for the first time with the general public invited.
France is following in the footsteps of the former Yugoslavia, which included in its 1974 constitution the phrase “People are free to decide whether to have children.” Yugoslavia's successor states retained similar language in their constitutions but did not guarantee abortion rights.
Not everyone saw the day as a cause for celebration, as angry protest marches took place in many countries.
The head of the 1.3 million-member Danish Trade Union Confederation expressed frustration at how differently women and men are treated in some areas.
Morten Skov Christensen said: “Unfortunately, we still see high wage gaps, jobs dominated by one gender, gender-segregated labor markets, cases of harassment that mainly affect women and other widespread equality issues. “He said.
The bill was approved overwhelmingly by French lawmakers earlier this week, and Friday's events mean it can now come into force.
Abortion is a very divisive issue in the United States, but it is legal in almost all of Europe and is overwhelmingly supported in France. In France, abortion is viewed more as a public health issue than a political one. French lawmakers approved the constitutional amendments on Monday in a vote of 780 to 72, with support from many far-right lawmakers.
Friday's event in Paris was the centerpiece of a day focused on advancing women's rights globally. Marches, protests and meetings are taking place from Jakarta, Indonesia to Mexico City and beyond.
The French constitutional amendment was welcomed by women's rights advocates around the world, including in places where women struggle to access contraception or maternal health care. president of france Emmanuel Macron It said it was a direct result of the U.S. Supreme Court striking down long-standing abortion rights in 2022.
Macron's critics have questioned why he was pushing the bill in a country where there is no clear threat to abortion rights but where women face many other problems.
While some French women saw the move as a huge victory, others said that in reality, not all French women have access to abortion.
“It’s a smokescreen.” Arya Meroni32, spoke about the event.
“The government is destroying our health care system and many family planning clinics have closed,” she said at the annual Feminist Night March in Paris on the eve of International Women's Day.
In France, the rate of women murdered by their partners continues to be high, and difficulties remain in prosecuting sexual abuse of women by celebrities and other men. French women also have lower wages and pensions. This is especially true for non-white women.
Macron's government has told French women the abortion amendment is important to avoid a situation like the United States, as hard-line groups gain ground and seek to turn back the clock on freedoms across Europe.
Macron is scheduled to preside over the constitution-making ceremony. Justice Minister Eric Dupont-Moretti plans to use a 100-kilogram (220-pound) printing press from 1810 to engrave amendments to France's 1958 constitution.
This will include the phrase, 'Women's freedom to have an abortion is guaranteed.' This event will also be held outdoors for the first time with the general public invited.
France is following in the footsteps of the former Yugoslavia, which included in its 1974 constitution the phrase “People are free to decide whether to have children.” Yugoslavia's successor states retained similar language in their constitutions but did not guarantee abortion rights.
Not everyone saw the day as a cause for celebration, as angry protest marches took place in many countries.
The head of the 1.3 million-member Danish Trade Union Confederation expressed frustration at how differently women and men are treated in some areas.
Morten Skov Christensen said: “Unfortunately, we still see high wage gaps, jobs dominated by one gender, gender-segregated labor markets, cases of harassment that mainly affect women and other widespread equality issues. “He said.