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Restoring dignity to thousands of women punished under outdated laws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 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 Bergé described the initiative as “an act of justice for thousands of lives devastated by unjust laws.” According to official estimates, over 11,660 individuals were convicted under the now-defunct restrictions.

Honoring the Memory of Victims of Unjust Legislation

Proposed by former Minister for Women’s Rights Laurence Rossignol, the legislation acknowledges that criminalizing abortion gravely harmed women’s 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.

A Commission to Safeguard the Stories of Affected Women

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.

A Powerful Message in France and Beyond

The Women’s Foundation has praised this legislative move as a bold step forward. “France is sending a strong message, both at home and internationally: no one should ever be criminalized for having an abortion,” 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.

A Parallel Effort: Rehabilitation for Those Convicted of Homosexuality

Long-Awaited Recognition

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 €10,000, with an additional €150 per day of imprisonment.

Ongoing Debate in the Senate

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 Régis 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.

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