French lawmakers took a significant step on Wednesday as the Senate voted in favor of legislation that would entrench the right to have an abortion in the French Constitution. The Senators voted 267 in favor and 50 against, with the legislation now set to be approved by a three-fifths majority of both houses meeting in a joint congress on March 4.

Prime Minister Gabriel Attal highlighted the vote as "huge progress" and emphasized it as a "protection that we owe to all women," recognizing their right to freely control their bodies. The move was prompted by the recent overturning of Roe v Wade by the US Supreme Court, which reignited discussions on abortion rights globally.

Abortion has been legal in France since 1975, and the time limit for the procedure has been extended to 14 weeks. The cost of the abortion procedure is covered by the national health insurance system. President Emmanuel Macron announced a new legislative proposal to amend the constitution on March 8, 2023, during an homage to feminist activist Gisèle Halimi.

The Fondation des Femmes, a gender equality NGO, celebrated the Senate vote as a "historic vote," calling it a "collective victory of feminist organizations and a strong signal sent to women around the world." President of the non-profit organization Family Planning, Sarah Durocher, emphasized the importance of guaranteeing abortion as a right for all and standing in solidarity with feminists worldwide.

The move to enshrine the right to abortion in the French Constitution is seen as a progressive step in safeguarding women's reproductive rights and ensuring access to safe and legal abortion procedures.