French lawmakers have approved a bill to preserve abortion rights in France’s constitution. Real Research, an online survey app, revealed that 45.03% of the respondents were completely aware of this, while 42.30% of the respondents were vaguely aware of French lawmakers making abortion a constitutional right.

Highlights:

  • Enshrining abortion rights will encourage public debate on the issue, 75.90% opined.
  • 75.90% felt that enshrining abortion rights would encourage public debate on the issue.
  • Limitations should be placed on when a woman can access abortion, say 66.10%.

French Lawmakers Making Abortion a Constitutional Right

This Law made France the only country to explicitly guarantee a woman’s right to terminate a pregnancy voluntarily. 42.50% of the respondents are somewhat supportive of French lawmakers making abortion a constitutional right and 32.28% are extremely supportive.

Figure 1: The support people have for French lawmakers making abortion a constitutional right
Figure 1: The support people have for French lawmakers making abortion a constitutional right

In addition, President Emmanuel Macron proposed the move to protect abortion rights, inspired by recent rollbacks in the United States. 51.28% of the respondents support this decision.

President Emmanuel Macron’s Abortion Rights

The measure passed with a vote of 780-72 at the Palace of Versailles, Abortion has received broad support across most political parties in France since its legalization in 1975. 62.55% of the respondents think this will inspire other countries to follow France’s decision. 

Figure 2: Whether this will inspire other countries
                    Figure 2: Whether this will inspire other countries

Moreover, far-right leader, Marine Le Pen said President Macron was using it to score political points because of the country’s large support for abortion rights. 62.55% of the respondents think this was mainly party politics rather than public welfare.

Abortion rights in France’s Constitution

In central Paris, abortion rights activists cheered and applauded as the Eiffel Tower sparkled in the background, displaying “My Body, My Choice” on a giant screen after the vote result was announced. 75.90% of the respondents think enshrining abortion rights will encourage public debate on the issue.

Figure 3: Whether enshrining abortion rights will encourage public debate on the issue
         Figure 3: Whether enshrining abortion rights will encourage public debate on the issue

Furthermore, abortion rights are more widely accepted in France than in the United States and many other countries. A survey on French lawmakers making abortion a constitutional right revealed that 66.10% of the respondents think there should be limitations on when a woman can access an abortion.

Methodology

 
Survey TitleSurvey on French Lawmakers Making Abortion a Constitutional Right
DurationMarch 14 – March 21, 2024
Number of Participants4,000
DemographicsMales and females, aged 21 to 99
Participating Countries Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belarus, Benin, Bolivia,… Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Chile, China, China (Hong Kong) China (Macao), China (Taiwan), Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Czech Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Greanada, Guatemala, Honduras, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Ivory Coast, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lebanon, Libya, Lithuania, Malaysia, Maldives, Maluritania, Mexico, Moldova, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar [Burma], Namibia, Nepal, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Palestine, Panama, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, Vietnam, Yemen, Zimbabwe.