France has made history by becoming the first country in the world to explicitly include the right to abortion in its constitution.
The country’s parliamentarians voted to revise the 1958 constitution to protect women’s “guaranteed freedom” to have an abortion.
In a resounding 780-72 vote, there was a standing ovation in the parliament in Versailles when the result was announced.
President Emmanuel Macron hailed the move as “French pride” that sends a “universal message”.
However, some anti-abortion groups and the Vatican have strongly criticized the change.
Abortion has been legal in France since 1975, and polls show that around 85% of the public supported amending the constitution to protect this right.
While several countries include reproductive rights in their constitutions, France is the first to explicitly state that abortion will be guaranteed.
This amendment becomes the 25th addition to modern France’s founding document, and it’s the first since 2008.
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