Restoring dignity to thousands of women punished under outdated laws<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n A historic legislative milestone was reached with the unanimous passage of a law by the French Parliament that rehabilitates women convicted for undergoing or assisting with abortions prior to the legalization of voluntary termination of pregnancy in 1975. Supported by the government and already approved without opposition in the Senate last March, the law received full backing in the National Assembly as well. Minister for Gender Equality Aurore Berg\u00e9 described the initiative as \u201can act of justice for thousands of lives devastated by unjust laws.\u201d According to official estimates, over 11,660 individuals were convicted under the now-defunct restrictions.<\/p>\n Proposed by former Minister for Women\u2019s Rights Laurence Rossignol, the legislation acknowledges that criminalizing abortion gravely harmed women\u2019s health, sexual and reproductive autonomy, and fundamental rights. It highlights the severe consequences of those laws, which led to preventable deaths and caused immense physical and emotional suffering.<\/p>\n A central feature of the law is the establishment of a remembrance commission dedicated to collecting and transmitting the testimonies of women who underwent secret abortions, as well as those who supported them. This initiative aims to shed light on the harsh realities faced by people during a time when abortion was a criminal offense. However, the law stops short of offering financial compensation, a point criticized by some members of the left, including ecologist deputy Sandra Regol, who called this omission a significant drawback. In contrast, representatives from the Republican and National Rally parties welcomed the absence of monetary reparations.<\/p>\n The Women\u2019s Foundation has praised this legislative move as a bold step forward. \u201cFrance is sending a strong message, both at home and internationally: no one should ever be criminalized for having an abortion,\u201d the organization stated. It emphasized the importance of acknowledging the injustices endured by thousands of women who were once condemned, humiliated, or imprisoned for making choices that are today recognized as fundamental rights.<\/p>\n In parallel, the National Assembly has also adopted, in a second reading and unanimously, a proposal to rehabilitate individuals who were convicted of homosexuality between 1942 and 1982. This law aims to formally recognize state-led discrimination and provides for a fixed compensation of \u20ac10,000, with an additional \u20ac150 per day of imprisonment.<\/p>\n Discussions between the Assembly and the Senate are still underway, as the upper chamber has modified the bill multiple times. Notably, the Senate altered the covered period to start in 1945, thereby excluding offenses under the Vichy regime, and also removed the compensation clause. Researchers such as R\u00e9gis Schlagdenhauffen estimate that around 10,000 convictions were due to differing ages of consent and 40,000 for public indecency related to homosexuality. However, most of those affected have since passed away or are elderly, which may limit the number of individuals able to benefit from reparations.<\/p>\n Welcome to our LGBTQ+ news section \u2014 your go-to resource for staying informed on critical developments, trends, and inspiring stories from around the world. We spotlight inclusive and thought-provoking content that informs, empowers, and fosters a sense of community. Whether you’re looking for updates on policy changes, social movements, or cultural shifts, our curated news helps you engage with the issues that matter. Together, we advocate for a world that respects and embraces all identities.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Historical Rehabilitation for Women Convicted of Abortion Before 1975 Restoring dignity to thousands of women punished under outdated laws A Symbolic Law Passed Unanimously A historic legislative milestone was reached with the unanimous passage of a law by the French Parliament that rehabilitates women convicted for undergoing or assisting with abortions prior to the legalization…<\/p>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":7670,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[8],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-7669","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-lgbtq-infos-news"],"yoast_head":"\nA Symbolic Law Passed Unanimously<\/h2>\n
Honoring the Memory of Victims of Unjust Legislation<\/h2>\n
A Commission to Safeguard the Stories of Affected Women<\/h2>\n
A Powerful Message in France and Beyond<\/h2>\n
A Parallel Effort: Rehabilitation for Those Convicted of Homosexuality<\/h2>\n
Long-Awaited Recognition<\/h3>\n
Ongoing Debate in the Senate<\/h3>\n
Latest LGBTQ+ News<\/h2>\n