France approved a bill that enshrines the right to an abortion in its constitution on Monday, becoming the first country in the world to do so.
French lawmakers in both chambers of the Parliament voted 780 to 72 in favor of the amendment. The historic vote came as a direct response to the U.S. Supreme Court’s reversal of Roe v. Wade, which pro-abortion activists in France categorically rejected.
“France is at the forefront,” said Yaël Braun-Pivet, president of the National Assembly of France, as she opened the joint session to hold the vote. “I’m proud of this congress, which will say that the right to get an abortion will now be part of our basic law.”
Under the amendment, abortion is now considered a “guaranteed freedom” in France. This means that future leadership in the European nation will be unable to “drastically modify” existing French law, which permits abortion up to 14 weeks into pregnancy. France first legalized abortion in 1975.
The European nation is more widely accepting of the medical practice compared to the U.S., with roughly 80 percent of French citizens supporting abortion access, according to Reuters.
“We are sending the message to all women: Your body belongs to you and no one has the right to control it in your stead,” French prime minister Gabriel Attal added.
Shortly after the vote, French president Emmanuel Macron promised a national celebration in Paris on Friday, which happens to be International Women’s Rights Day.
Macron has been supportive of adding an abortion-focused amendment to the French constitution since Roe v. Wade was overturned in 2022. Last week, he celebrated the French Senate’s vote that moved the amendment to its final step in the legislative process on Monday.
“I am committed to making women’s freedom to have an abortion irreversible by enshrining it in the constitution,” Macron said Wednesday in a post on X.
Monday’s vote marks the 25th time that France has amended its constitution since it was adopted in 1958. French lawmakers passed their last constitutional amendment in 2008.