French lawmakers debate giving constitutional protection to abortion rights

FILE PHOTO: Protesters gather for a rally in support of abortion rights following the U.S. Supreme Court overturning Roe v. Wade, in Paris, France, July 2, 2022. REUTERS/Benoit Tessier/File Photo

PARIS (Reuters) - French lawmakers debated on Thursday whether to enshrine abortion rights in the constitution, with MPs on the left and centre saying the U.S. Supreme Court's overturning of a landmark ruling in June showed the need for new steps.

Women have had a legal right to abortion in France since a law adopted in 1974, and updated several times since, with the latest modification in February extending access to abortion to 14 weeks of pregnancy from 12.