The French parliament on Monday voted to anchor the right to abortion in the country's constitution, making France the first country in the world to offer explicit protection for terminating a pregnancy in its basic law.
A congress of both the lower and upper houses of parliament, gathered in a special chamber at the Palace of Versailles, easily obtained the three-fifths supermajority needed for the change, with 72 lawmakers voting against. Deputies applauded with a standing ovation.
President Emmanuel Macron described the move as "French pride" that had sent a "universal message".
