50 years ago France recognized the right to abortion, but so far it had not incorporated it into the constitution, even if there were attempts. A year ago, the Senate introduced a constitutional inclusion text on abortion, which replaced the term "right" until then with "freedom."

On Thursday, the Senate’s constitutional amendment was approved to “guarantee the freedom of abortion” and on Monday the National Assembly and the Senate have held a joint meeting. They give the final approval to the proposal. 780 voted, of which 580 voted in favour.

Ecologist Senator Mélanie Vogel recalled last Thursday that the work has been long: "At the time of starting this work, all those who told us it was not going to be possible. (…) When reactionary voices are gaining strength, we have opened the way: other women from European countries are sure to start similar struggles." Justice Minister Eric Dupond-Moretti also described the vote as "historic".

General satisfaction but guarantee requirement

Feminist collectives have generally applauded the vote. The French Women's Foundation, for example, understands normative change as a "collective victory". The Family Planning association, which is fighting for the right to abortion and freedom, has also shown its satisfaction.

However, some groups have determined that their inclusion in the Constitution does not have to guarantee the right to abortion. For example, the Baiona Manifeminist Collective has gathered among the ups and downs of the M8 mobilizations that, in spite of everything, will be "necessary to rise together". "We agree and demand basic resources to be able to do so; we want the right to abortion to be guaranteed where necessary, we want the conscientious objection to abortion that doctors have, for all cases of assisted reproduction and for all male and female contraception".