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Radio France Internationale
Radio France Internationale
National
RFI

French parliament unanimously exonerates women punished for abortion

A woman holds a placard reading "My body, my choice" during a demonstration for reproductive rights on the occasion of International Safe Abortion Day in Paris on 28 September 2025. © AFP - THOMAS SAMSON

French lawmakers have unanimously approved a landmark bill exonerating women who were punished for having abortions before the procedure was legalised in 1975 – a move hailed by feminist groups as a symbolic affirmation of reproductive rights.

The vote, held on Thursday in the National Assembly, the lower house of the French parliament, finalised the adoption of the bill after it was backed by the Senate in March and supported by the government.

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