On Monday, several feminist associations organized, with the Paris town hall, a retransmission on a giant screen of the Congress vote consecrating the entry of the freedom to abort into the fundamental law. Several hundred people, of all ages, were present.
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The crowd screams, the smoke bombs crack, and the Eiffel Tower suddenly lights up. Emotion gripped the hundreds of people who came to Paris to celebrate the entry of “guaranteed freedom” to resort to voluntary termination of pregnancy (IVG) into the Constitution, Monday March 4. A few seconds earlier, the overwhelming result of the vote of Parliament meeting in Congress at Versailles – 780 votes in favor, out of 852 votes cast – was displayed on the giant screen installed on the Trocadéro esplanade for the occasion. A world first, a year and a half after the decision of the American Supreme Court to revoke the constitutional right of women to have an abortion.
Despite the cold passing through the bodies, the crowd, mainly female, rejoices in unison at this “historic day” in which she wanted to take part. Even before the election result was announced, Souad could not hold back his tears. This forty-year-old, who thought, before the American decision, that the right to abortion was “deeply learned” in countries that legalized it several decades ago, is said today “reassured” for her 8 year old daughter. “If she ever needs to have an abortion, I know she can do it.”she says, confiding that she herself had an abortion at age 20 in order to “to continue [ses] studies to become an engineer.
“I am happy for my sisters, my cousins, to tell me that they will have this right”confides Jules, 21, who says to himself “proud of [son] country”. Despite the presence, at the same time, of opponents of abortion in Versailles, Vanylle, 23, is delighted with a decision “which unites us beyond our political differences, and across all generations”.
“Inspire other countries”
A few steps away, Vanessa, 35, came with her two daughters, aged 6 and 7. “It’s a significant moment in their lives and they will remember being present”assures the one who demands feminist education for her children. “It’s very touching to be here, it’s a decision that can have resonance beyond France, giving courage and inspiring other countries to do the sameadds Sophie, 53 years old. In twenty years, we will talk about this day.”
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In addition to the feeling of experiencing a historic event, many people say they came “draw joy” in this collective moment. “I have chills”, slips Iphigénie, 18 years old. This Monday she saw her first feminist rally. “When we are each on our own, everyday life can be demoralizing”she notes, citing her discouragement in the face of the count of feminicides carried out by associations and broadcast on social networks. “It’s important to show younger generations that activism is not just about fighting through pain. It’s about winning small victories, which become big, so that one day, perhaps, we won’t don’t need to fight anymore!”says Rozenn, 40 years old.
“Stay vigilant”
If everyone greets one “beautiful symbol”, many nevertheless believe that the fight is far from won. While feminist activists and the left advocated the inclusion in the Constitution of a “right” to abortion, Salomé, 29, fears that the formulation finally adopted, devoting only a “freedom guaranteed”, “does not protect the right to abortion at all”. In 2012, for her first candidacy for the presidential election, Marine Le Pen (National Rally) proposed defunding certain abortions, recalls the young woman, stressing that the legislator will still be able, in the future, to determine the conditions under which performs abortion.
“It’s not all about having a right, it still has to be enforceable, that is to say, there must be structures to be able to exercise it under the correct conditions and deadlines. “also underlines Monique, 74 years old, who had an abortion at the age of 24, just four years after the entry into force of the Veil law. “There are many things left to do for women, there are many struggles,” like that against sexist and sexual violence or against salary inequalities, also recalls Martine, 75 years old. Louanne, 15, agrees: “No right is ever acquired forever, it is up to us to continue to remain vigilant.”