France's Senate has just given its approval to a bill aimed at enshrining a woman's right to an abortion in the country's constitution. This critical development comes in response to recent challenges to abortion rights, particularly in the United States, where a 2022 Supreme Court decision rolled back a longstanding guarantee.
#France #EmmanuelMacron #FranceAbortionBill #AbortionRightsFrance #MacronAbortionBill #ConstitutionalAmendment #SenateApproval #ConservativeConcerns #GlobalAbortionChallenges #PolandAbortionProtests
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#France #EmmanuelMacron #FranceAbortionBill #AbortionRightsFrance #MacronAbortionBill #ConstitutionalAmendment #SenateApproval #ConservativeConcerns #GlobalAbortionChallenges #PolandAbortionProtests
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NewsTranscript
00:00 In a historic move, France's Senate has just given its approval to a bill aimed at
00:07 enshrining a woman's right to an abortion in the country's constitution.
00:13 This critical development comes in response to recent challenges to abortion rights, particularly
00:19 in the United States, where a 2022 Supreme Court decision rolled back a long-standing
00:25 guarantee.
00:26 The bill in France, championed by President Emmanuel Macron, had previously received overwhelming
00:32 support in the lower house, the National Assembly, back in January.
00:37 This approval by the Senate, with 267 votes in favour and 50 against, marks a significant
00:43 step forward in securing reproductive rights for women in France.
00:48 President Macron, speaking after the Senate vote, reiterated his government's commitment
00:53 to making the right to abortion irreversible by enshrining it in the constitution.
00:58 The proposed amendment to Article 34 of the constitution aims to specify that the law
01:03 will determine the conditions under which women can freely exercise their right to choose
01:08 abortion, which is a freedom that the amendment seeks to guarantee.
01:12 French Justice Minister Eric Dupond-Moretti expressed the significance of this moment,
01:17 stating, "This vote is historic.
01:21 The Senate has written a new page in women's rights."
01:24 The joint session of the Parliament is now the next and final step for the bill's approval,
01:29 expected to take place next Monday.
01:31 With both the National Assembly and the Senate supporting the legislation, the outcome at
01:36 the Palace of Versailles is anticipated to be largely ceremonial, requiring a three-fifths
01:42 majority.
01:43 The French government, in justifying the need for this constitutional amendment, pointed
01:48 to threats against the right to abortion globally.
01:51 Highlighting the situation in the United States, where the Supreme Court's decision in 2022
01:56 overturned a 50-year-old ruling, the government argued that similar challenges exist in various
02:02 countries even within Europe.
02:05 Last year, Poland faced significant protests following a controversial tightening of already
02:09 restrictive abortion laws.
02:11 The Polish Constitutional Court's 2020 ruling restricted the termination of pregnancies
02:16 in cases of severe fetal deformities, including Down syndrome.
02:20 As France takes this decisive step to fortify women's reproductive rights in its constitution,
02:26 it sends a clear message about the importance of safeguarding these rights in the face of
02:30 global challenges.
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