French President Emmanuel Macron called for the inclusion of women’s rights to access abortion care in the European Union’s Charter of Fundamental Rights during a nationwide address on Friday.
During an emotional speech at the Place Vendôme in Paris to mark International Women’s Day, Macron expressed his concerns about the erosion of women’s rights in some of the world’s “great democracies.”
In his statement, Macron refrained from directly mentioning the United States. However, he appeared to allude to the recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling in 2022 that revoked the federally guaranteed right to abortion.
In a significant move, French lawmakers recently approved a groundbreaking law that ensures a woman’s fundamental right to abortion. This historic decision makes France the first country to officially protect this right within its constitution.
Women in France have the right to freely choose whether or not to undergo the procedure, as stated by the law.
In his opening speech, Macron expressed his enthusiasm for the significant day in the history of our republic. Speaking in French, he addressed the crowd gathered at the iconic Paris landmark, following the formal signing of the law. The change to the country’s constitution was symbolically imprinted using a 19th-century press, creating a hushed atmosphere.
He declared that today marks the beginning of a fight, rather than the end of the story. He further mentioned that many of those fighters were present at the event, which garnered applause from the audience.
France is determined to ensure that the right to an abortion is protected worldwide, not just within its own borders. The country has the unique distinction of having a constitution that explicitly safeguards this right under all circumstances. However, France recognizes that the fight for women’s rights is far from over. It remains committed to championing this cause not just within Europe, but on a global scale, as reactionary forces continue to pose a threat to women’s reproductive rights.
Macron started by expressing admiration for the influential French philosopher and feminist activist Simone de Beauvoir. He acknowledged her significant contributions, particularly for coining the term “the second sex” to describe society’s perception of women during the 20th century.
According to Macron, ensuring the legality of abortion in France was not a top priority in the past. However, he now believes that the current global context has made it imperative and pressing to take action on this issue.
“Women’s rights are being rolled back everywhere, even in the world’s great democracies and neighboring countries, as well as here in Europe,” stated Macron on Friday. He emphasized the need to include similar protections in the EU charter.
Women’s rights are being diminished as those in power continue to turn a blind eye to women’s ability to make choices for themselves.
