On January 17, 1975, a law carried by Simone Veil, decriminalized the voluntary termination of pregnancy in France. Since then, changes have continued to be made to strengthen this right more and more threatened in the world. We trace them.
- Adopted on January 17, 1975, the Veil law made it possible to legalize the voluntary termination of pregnancy, which can be practiced and taken care of until the end of the 14th week of pregnancy.
- On March 8, 2024, the freedom to resort to abortion was included in the French Constitution.
- Today, women can use the drug method and that instrumental according to their wish and the stage of pregnancy.
50 years ago, France has taken a major step in the history of women’s rights, because the law authorizing the voluntary termination of pregnancy (abortion) called the “Veil law”, named after the Minister of Health of the Health of Government of Jacques Chirac, Simone Veil, was promulgated for a period of five years. This decriminalizes abortion, that is to say that it is no longer sanctioned by law, and provides that “The pregnant woman that her condition places in a situation of distress can ask a doctor the interruption of her pregnancy. This interruption can only be practiced before the end of the 10th week”.
Right to abortion: how did he evolve?
On this date, abortion is not reimbursed by Social Security, but care on request for medical aid is planned. However, this changes with the law of December 31, 1982, which establishes the care by the state of expenses incurred by health insurance under abortion. “The law of December 17, 2012 allows 100 % care of voluntary pregnancy interruptions by health insurance. Two years later, acts of ultrasound and biological investigations associated with abortion are Also taken care of. , as well as technical acts (biology in particular) “, Can we read on the site of the Ministry of Health.
But that’s not all, the legal duration of abortion has also changed. In 2001, the law extended the legal period from 10 to 12 weeks of pregnancy and softens the conditions of access to contraceptives and abortion for minors. More recently, in 2022, this period was extended to 14 weeks. “The regulatory deadline for drug -based abortion in town was made through a decree of February 19, 2022 from 5 to 7 weeks of pregnancy to allow expanded access to abortion.” Finally, on March 8, 2024, France became the first country in the world to register the freedom to resort to abortion in its constitution.
What are the conditions of access to IVG?
Today, all women, even minors who do not need a parental authorization, can use the voluntary termination of pregnancy, which is confidential, that is to say that nothing appears on the social security statement. To abort, they must make an appointment with a doctor or a midwife, in a city office, a health facility (hospital or clinic), a health center or a sexual health center (ex-planning planning center and family education). It is possible to do it face -to -face or remotely. “Psychosocial maintenance is possible for all women who wish to use an abortion. It is a moment of listening, advice and dialogue which allows them to be accompanied during this sometimes difficult period. It is compulsory for minors” ,, noted The Ministry of Health.
Regarding the methods of abortion, there are currently two: that drugs, namely the successive taking of two drugs, and that an instrumental, which is based on the expansion of the collar and the evacuation of the uterine content by aspiration. The choice of method depends on the wish of the woman and the stage of pregnancy. “A control visit must take place between the 14th and the 21st day after instrumental or drug abortion to ensure that there is no complication and that pregnancy has been interrupted.”
