"PREGNANT, IF I WANT, WHEN I WANT, HOW I WANT"
FRANCE BECOMES FIRST COUNTRY TO EXPLICITLY ENSHRINE ABORTION RIGHTS IN CONSTITUTION
The Washington Post | Published March 4, 2024
PARIS — With the endorsement of a specially convened session of lawmakers at Versailles, France on Monday became the first country in the world to explicitly enshrine abortion rights in its constitution — an effort galvanized by the rollback of protections in the United States.
The amendment referring to abortion as a “guaranteed freedom” needed the approval of three-fifths of lawmakers — or 512 votes. The vote result on Monday evening was 780 in favor and 72 against.
“We’re sending a message to all women: your body belongs to you and no one can decide for you,” Prime Minister Gabriel Attal told lawmakers assembled in Versailles.
Thousands of Parisians gathered to watch the proceedings live on a giant television screen at Le Parvis des Droits de l’Homme — or “Human Rights Square” — in central Paris, with the Eiffel Tower looming dramatically over the scene.
Before the political debate began, the television screen showed a montage of women’s rights campaigners around the world holding signs declaring, “My body is mine” and “My body, my choice.” The sound system blared Aretha Franklin’s “Respect.” Parisians driving by honked their horns.
France decriminalized abortion in 1975; abortion is legal for any reason through the 14th week of pregnancy. This amendment won’t change any of that.
But while other countries have inferred abortion rights protections from their constitutions, as the U.S. Supreme Court did in Roe v. Wade, France is the first to explicitly codify in its constitution that abortion rights are protected. France is not interpreting its constitution; it is changing its constitution.
The outcome was “also a promise for all women who fight all over the world for the right to have autonomy over their bodies — in Argentina, in the United States, in Andorra, in Italy, in Hungary, in Poland,” said lawmaker Mathilde Panot, who had introduced the bill in the National Assembly. “This vote today tells them: your struggle is ours, this victory is yours.” People gather near the Eiffel Tower during the broadcast of the special session of Parliament, in Paris on Monday.
so so so proud of fred. this was his season, he won 6 races and showed everyone what a talented driver he is. he had some shit luck which has cost him the title but that does not diminish his talent. he did everything right and he had an amazing last race. no one can take that away from him. he has a bright and great future in front of him and i can't wait to be there to witness it. <3
I got a new niece! One of my niblings came out as trans to my wife and I last night at her folks' new year's party. It was adorable, we were talking about board games and other stuff she's into these days and she was like: this is another new development in my life, and showed us her phone. At first I didn't pick up on it, it looked like a background of pretty clouds. I was like, ooh! photography! And she's like...the colors are the important part. Pink, blue, white, in sort of stripes. And it dawned on me and I was like oh snap! What are your pronouns?! Are we doing a new name! Congratulations! Big hugs!
These kids have such a vocabulary and emotional intelligence, I am so proud of the youngsters in my life. That makes for 100% of my local niblings/nieces that are queer. Now I just have to get them interested in unionism and we'll be golden.