French Senate Votes to Rehabilitate Women Convicted Under Pre-1975 Abortion Laws

The unanimous decision acknowledges the suffering caused by historic abortion bans and proposes a commission to preserve the memory of those affected.

The French Senate unanimously passed a law to rehabilitate women condemned for illegal abortions before the 1975 legalization of abortion in France.
The law recognizes the physical and emotional harm caused by pre-1975 abortion bans but does not include financial compensation for those affected.
A commission will be established to document and preserve the memory of women who underwent illegal abortions and the individuals who supported them.
Over 11,660 people were convicted for abortion-related offenses in France between 1870 and 1975, highlighting the extensive impact of these laws.
This initiative builds on the 2024 constitutional amendment guaranteeing the right to abortion and serves as a symbolic stance against global challenges to reproductive rights.