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

Constitution @15: Kenya still fails women on reproductive rights and bodily autonomy

Unsafe abortion remains a leading cause of deaths and injuries related to pregnancy in Kenya.

Sunday, October 05, 2025
By Nyokabi Njogu

The Constitution enshrined reproductive rights, yet women and girls continue to face denial of services, unsafe abortions, and systemic barriers that undermine their dignity and autonomy.

Despite landmark court decisions affirming access to abortion, freedom from forced sterilisation, and reproductive autonomy, outdated laws and poor implementation continue to frustrate women’s rights.

Continued: https://nation.africa/kenya/news/gender/constitution-15-kenya-still-fails-women-on-reproductive-rights-and-bodily-autonomy-5213542

05.10.2025

News

court cases on abortion in Kenya

enshrining abortion rights in constitution

France’s Veil abortion law leaves positive but fragile legacy, 50 years on

France on Friday marks 50 years since the law decriminalising abortion came into effect. Since then, the law has undergone numerous updates to reflect changes in society and was even enshrined in the Constitution in March 2024. But despite these advances, advocates warn that access to abortion remains fragile in practice.

Issued on: 17/01/2025
By: Ollia Horton with RFI

The law to decriminalise abortion was proposed by then-health minister Simone Veil in November 1974. She was one of only nine female MPs at the time and faced enormous pressure – and abuse – during the 25-hour parliamentary debate.

"I never imagined the hatred that I would unleash," Veil later said, recalling how some lawmakers likened abortion to the Holocaust – of which Veil was a survivor, having been deported to the Auschwitz-Birkenau and Bergen-Belsen concentration camps.

Continued: https://www.rfi.fr/en/france/20250117-veil-abortion-law-leaves-positive-but-fragile-legacy-50-years-on

17.01.2025