Spain Wants Abortion in Its Constitution. Access Must Be There Too

By Clara Serra Baiget, Senior Attorney in Europe, Women’s Link Worldwide
June 24, 2026

When France enshrined abortion in its constitution in 2024, many of us working in reproductive rights across Europe felt something shift. A door had opened. But that door had also been pushed open in Argentina, Colombia, and Mexico through a feminist Green Wave that transformed Latin America. As this wave crossed borders, it resonated with and strengthened struggles beyond the region, helping shape a renewed global momentum for reproductive rights. The constitutional developments now emerging across Europe are part of this broader and interconnected feminist movement. Spain is the latest country approaching that threshold. Spain’s move to constitutionally guarantee access to voluntary termination of pregnancy would represent a significant political victory for women, girls, and gender-diverse people. In a continent where anti-rights movements are gaining ground and reproductive freedoms that once felt settled are being contested, anchoring abortion protections in constitutional law is not symbolic. It would be a major democratic safeguard.

Continued: https://womenslinkworldwide.org/en/spain-wants-abortion-in-its-constitution-access-must-be-there-too/

24.06.2026

Commentary

Clara Serra Baiget

conscientious objection

enshrining abortion rights in constitution

Women's Link Worldwide

Luxembourg officially enshrines abortion rights in constitution

MPs voted for the second time on Tuesday on putting the protection of women’s rights into the constitution

Alexandra Thill
June 16, 2026

Lawmakers on Tuesday voted to officially enshrine abortion rights in Luxembourg’s constitution, rubber-stamping a decision made earlier in the year, which makes the Grand Duchy the second country in the world to protect women’s reproductive rights in its highest laws.

“I don’t think I’m exaggerating when I say that we are making history today,” Marc Baum, from the left-wing Déi Lénk party told MPs in his speech in parliament on Tuesday afternoon.

Continued: https://www.luxtimes.lu/luxembourg/luxembourg-officially-enshrines-abortion-rights-in-constitution/157310179.html

16.06.2026

News

abortion law reform

Déi Lénk party

enshrining abortion rights in constitution

Sweden – Constitutional right to abortion and increased opportunities to limit freedom of association and right to citizenship

Wednesday 20 May 2026

The Government proposes, among other things, that the right to adoption [they mean abortion] be introduced to the Instrument of Government as a new fundamental right and freedom. The Riksdag has voted in favour of adopting the Government’s proposed amendments to the Instrument of Government, pending a second decision.

The Government’s proposals mean, among other things that:
the right to abortion will be introduced as a new fundamental right and freedom in the Instrument of Government;

Continued : https://www.riksdagen.se/en/news/articles/2026/may/20/constitutional-right-to-abortion-and-increased_cms88ff4597-fcb1-454e-8189-a968f250d186en/

20.05.2026

News

abortion law reform

enshrining abortion rights in constitution

Spain – A Second-Class Right

Spain’s Proposal to Constitutionalise the Right to Abortion

21 April 2026
Rosario Grimà Algora

The Spanish Government has recently approved a project for a constitutional amendment to protect the right to a voluntary termination of pregnancy (abortion). This amendment would add a new paragraph to article 43, on the right to healthcare, to include the following text:

“Public authorities shall guarantee women’s right to voluntarily terminate their pregnancy under conditions of real and effective equality, with all the necessary provisions and services for that exercise.”1)

While the discussion of constitutional reform is welcome, the current amendment falls short of its promises.

Continued : https://verfassungsblog.de/spain-abortion-constitution/

Spanish government promotes abortion as a right

The Spanish Council of Ministers approves in second round the amendment of the Constitution to include abortion as a right.

Paloma López Campos
April 7, 2026

The Council of Ministers in Spain is moving towards constitutional reform, with the aim of protecting abortion as a right. On Tuesday, April 7, this body approved in the second round the modification of Article 43 of the Constitution. Constitution. This change implies the addition of a fourth paragraph to guarantee equal access to abortion in all regions of the country.

In order to carry out the reform, it is necessary that the Popular Party vote in favor of it. Should the proposal go ahead, Spain would become the second nation in the world to include the abortion as a right in its constitution. The first was France in 2024.

Continued: https://www.omnesmag.com/en/news/government-abortion-law-constitution-spain/

07.04.2026

News

enshrining abortion rights in constitution

Popular Party

Spanish Council of Ministers

A new freedom in Luxembourg’s Constitution: Constitutionalizing access to abortion

By Francisco Matos Folgado
10 March 2026

In March 2026, Luxembourg’s Chamber of Deputies approved the first constitutional vote on a proposal to enshrine the freedom to access abortion in the Constitution. Presented as a measure aimed at strengthening existing protections and safeguarding reproductive autonomy, the initiative forms part of a broader European debate on the constitutional status of abortion rights following recent international developments. This article examines the political and legal context surrounding Constitutional Revision Proposal No. 8379, the debates it has generated within Luxembourg’s institutions and political parties, and the potential legal implications of recognizing access to abortion as a constitutional freedom.

Continued: https://constitutionnet.org/news/voices/new-freedom-luxembourgs-constitution-constitutionalizing-access-abortion

10.03.2026

Commentary

Alternative Democratic Reform Party

Constitutional Revision Proposal No. 8379

enshrining abortion rights in constitution

Francisco Matos Folgado

Luxembourg becomes second country worldwide to enshrine abortion rights in constitution

Large majority in parliament backs amendment to Luxembourg’s highest law, with ‘freedom’ to have an abortion added to constitution

Cordula Schnuer
Mar 3, 2026

Luxembourg lawmakers on Tuesday voted to enshrine the freedom to have an abortion in the country’s constitution. The amendment makes Luxembourg only the second country in the world to protect women’s reproductive rights in its highest laws. France had led the way in 2024 in response to the US Supreme Court’s reversal of Roe v. Wade in 2022, which had granted access to abortions nationwide.

“We see throughout the world that women’s rights are in the firing line,” said Marc Baum (déi Lénk), adding that populist, right-wing and fascist regimes are wielding their might by exercising power over women. “This vote in the chamber is historic. It’s also about what side of history we are on. It’s whether we are willing and capable to defend out democratic values.”

Continued: https://www.luxtimes.lu/luxembourg/luxembourg-becomes-second-country-worldwide-to-enshrine-abortion-rights-in-constitution/138838058.html

03.03.2026

enshrining abortion rights in constitution

Canada – Quebec justice minister withdraws article on abortion rights in constitution bill

By Thomas Laberge, The Canadian Press
Feb 20, 2026

QUÉBEC — Quebec’s justice minister has reversed course in the face of strong criticism of his plan to enshrine abortion rights in his constitution bill, announcing Friday the contentious section will be removed.

Simon Jolin-Barrette said he made the difficult decision to withdraw the abortion article after hearing from legal experts and women’s rights groups. “Our desire has always been to defend women’s freedom of choice. And if we want to be consistent with ourselves, we must respect that,” he said.

Continued: https://halifax.citynews.ca/2026/02/20/quebec-justice-minister-withdraws-article-on-abortion-rights-in-constitution-bill/

20.02.2026

News

Coalition Avenir Québec

enshrining abortion rights in constitution

Global anti-feminist backlash gains ground after decades of equality gains

Spain and France justify enshrining the right to abortion in their Constitutions as a safeguard against a ‘reactionary’ wave that could roll back achievements

Marc Bassets, Berlin
OCT 31, 2025

History never advances in a straight line. Although, as Martin Luther King said, “the arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice.” Progress always moves in fits and starts: two steps forward, one step back. This is also the case with women’s rights and equality.

For a decade or more — in Western countries and in the Global South — there have been numerous cases of rights being stripped away after a long period of progress. This regression — according to progressive and liberal political leaders — is linked to the global rise of new forms of authoritarianism and nationalism.

Continued: https://english.elpais.com/international/2025-11-01/global-anti-feminist-backlash-gains-ground-after-decades-of-equality-gains.html

Abortion freedom to be enshrined in Luxembourg’s constitution

Abortion freedom to be enshrined in Luxembourg's constitution
RTL Today
Oct 6, 2025

In recent weeks, lawmakers have debated whether Luxembourg's Constitution should refer to abortion as a right or a freedom.

On Friday, the parliamentary committee on institutions settled the question, with an overwhelming majority of MPs voting in favour of the term "freedom."

As explained by constitutional law expert Luc Heuschling the term offers stronger protection for doctors' freedom of conscience. Under this framework, women have the freedom to request the procedure, while doctors retain the freedom to decline to perform it.

Continued: https://today.rtl.lu/news/luxembourg/a/2343852.html

06.10.2025

News

enshrining abortion rights in constitution