For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails
Please enter a valid email address
Please enter a valid email address
SIGN UP
I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice
Thanks for signing up to the
Breaking News email
{{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }}
France this week became the first country in the world to make abortion a constitutional right, after lawmakers voted to explicitly guarantee a woman's right to voluntarily terminate a pregnancy.
The historic move was approved by 780 votes against 72 in a vote in Versailles Palace, just outside Paris, and was met with a standing ovation.
Abortion rights are more widely accepted in France - where it has been legal since 1975 - than in the United States and many other countries, with polls showing around 80 per cent of French people back the fact that abortion is legal.
“We’re sending a message to all women: your body belongs to you and no one can decide for you,” new prime minister Gabriel Attal said.
Following the vote, Paris’ Eiffel Tower was lit with a celebratory message reading “Mon Corps Mon Choux”, as well as the English translation: “My Body My Choice”.
RECOMMENDED
British Museum sparks sexism row with joke ‘confused’ women can attract men
Undo
Hairy Bikers star Dave Myers left behind impressive fortune after death
Undo
goldentree.com
Plastic Surgeon: Stop Using Moisturisers, Rather Use This Household Item!goldentree.com| Sponsored Sponsored
Undo
Techno Mag
Incredible, the TV box everyone is talking about: Access all channels?Techno Mag| Sponsored Sponsored
Undo
Powered by Taboola Powered by Taboola
The Eiffel Tower is lit up with the message “My Body My Choice” after abortion vote
" srcset="https://static.independent.co.uk/2024/03/05/10/GettyImages-2051569035.jpg?quality=75&width=320&auto=webp 320w, https://static.independent.co.uk/2024/03/05/10/GettyImages-2051569035.jpg?quality=75&width=640&auto=webp 640w" src="https://static.independent.co.uk/2024/03/05/10/GettyImages-2051569035.jpg" data-gallery-length="3" class="i-amphtml-fill-content i-amphtml-replaced-content" pinger-seen="true">
The Eiffel Tower is lit up with the message “My Body My Choice” after abortion vote
(AFP via Getty Images)
In Europe, 95 per cent of women now live in countries that have legalised abortion on request, the vast majority with no conditions attached.
Promoted stories
the RSPB
Global initiatives the RSPB is supporting to help naturethe RSPB Learn More
Undo
by Taboola by Taboola
Sponsored Links Sponsored Links
Promoted Links Promoted Links
Here’s everything you need to know about abortion rights across Europe:
Abortion available on request
In Europe, 39 out of 47 countries have legalised abortion on request. The exact maximum pregnancy term differs from country to country, usually between 18 and 24 weeks.
France is amongst the most unrestricted country, with abortion available immediately on request. It is joined by others across Europe such Greece, Sweden, Switzerland and Turkey.
France’s MPs and Senators during the gathering of both houses of parliament in Versailles
(via REUTERS)
However, some countries enforce mandatory measures like counselling (12 countries) or a waiting period (15 countries). Nations that carry both include Belgium, Germany, Italy and Russia.
The Center for Reproductive Rights charity has criticised both these measures as biased and medically unnecessary.
Abortion allowed under certain conditions
The UK is one of only two European countries that allows abortion dependent on certain conditions being met (the other being Finland). These are enshrined in law in a legal act dating to 1967 and amended in 1990.
These conditions include risk to the life of the pregnant woman, or their physical and mental health, and risk of that if the child was born it would suffer serious physical or mental complications. It is possible to have an abortion up to 23 weeks and 6 days of pregnancy.
Full conditions for abortion under UK law Abortion Act 1967 The pregnancy has not exceeded its twenty-fourth week and that the continuance of the pregnancy would involve risk, greater than if the pregnancy were terminated, of injury to the physical or mental health of the pregnant woman or any existing children of her family; or The termination is necessary to prevent grave permanent injury to the physical or mental health of the pregnant woman; or The continuance of the pregnancy would involve risk to the life of the pregnant woman, greater than if the pregnancy were terminated; There is a substantial risk that if the child were born it would suffer from such physical or mental abnormalities as to be seriously handicapped.
According the British Pregnancy Advisory Service, UK law gives doctors a “gatekeeping role” in deciding who may have an abortion. The wording of this law gives them a great deal of discretion to decide when conditions are met.
However, abortion has not been legalised in the UK. In 2023, 44-year-old mother of three Carla Foster was jailed for more than 2 years for taking abortion pills after the legal limit.
Abortion highly restricted or totally banned
There are only three European countries that still exercise a total ban on abortion. These are San Marino, Malta and Andorra. They are three of the smallest and least populated countries on the continent.
Three other countries have highly restrictive abortion laws: Liechtenstein, Monaco and Poland. These countries only allow abortions when the woman’s life or health is at risk, or the pregnancy is the result of a sexual assault.
More about abortion rights France abortion
Join our commenting forum Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments
1/ 3France vote: Abortion rights across Europe, explained
France vote: Abortion rights across Europe, explained
The Eiffel Tower is lit up with the message “My Body My Choice” after abortion vote
AFP via Getty Images
France vote: Abortion rights across Europe, explained
France’s MPs and Senators during the gathering of both houses of parliament in Versailles
via REUTERS
France vote: Abortion rights across Europe, explained
The Eiffel Tower is lit up with the message “My Body My Choice” after abortion vote
AFP via Getty Images
？ Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Subscribe
Already subscribed? Log in