“It’s historic”
: abortion was formally sealed in the Constitution on March 8, under the gaze of many figures of feminism, before the traditional demonstrations in favor of equality between women and men expected throughout France .
“The seal of the Republic seals on this day a long fight for freedom
,” launched Emmanuel Macron, during this ceremony, which took place in a solemn atmosphere at Place Vendôme, in front of an audience made up of feminist activists, personalities , elected officials from all sides but also anonymous spectators.
To discover
Follow the sealing ceremony for the entry of the right to abortion into the Constitution
The president, on this International Women's Rights Day, confirmed his intention to have abortion included in the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights.
Among the several hundred spectators present, Côme Laurizon and Eva Juif, law students, skipped classes for this unique moment:
“It’s super interesting for us to experience this moment live, it’s historic
,” slips at AFP the 19-year-old woman.
Many curious people and foreign tourists were taking photos.
Personalities, such as the actress Catherine Deneuve and the youngest signatory of the
“Manifesto of the 343”
, Claudine Monteil, were invited to the platform alongside the president.
Read alsoThe Constitution will be sealed in public on the press ordered by Cambacérès
After the heavy metal press, more than 200 years old, had closed to affix the seal of the Republic to the text, Catherine Ringer concluded the ceremony by singing the revisited “Marseillaise”.
The president wanted
“a popular ceremony”
to mark
“the culmination of this collective fight”
, a few days after the approval of the constitutional revision by Congress.
He also brought flowers to the tombs of
“great figures”
of feminism who contributed to the revision of the Constitution, including Gisèle Halimi and Simone Veil.
"Take the road"
For feminist associations, March 8 remains first and foremost
“the opportunity to take to the streets”
to give visibility and defend the rights of
“poorly paid essential employees”
and
“women victims of violence”
, according to Anne Leclerc, member of the collective.
Around fifty organizations, including associations and unions, have called on women to strike at work and domestic tasks, as happened in Spain or Iceland.
“The division of domestic labor remains highly unequal
,” regrets Soad Baba Aïssa, of the Femmes Solidaires association.
Demonstrations are announced in 200 places in France.
In Paris, the procession will leave at 2 p.m. from Place Gambetta towards Bastille.
The demonstrators will denounce in particular the salary inequalities, which exist
“in all companies and in all administrations”
, underlines Myriam Lebkiri, of the CGT.
Also read Éric Dupond-Moretti on abortion in the Constitution: “We must not wait until a right is threatened to protect it”
The average salary of women remains 14.9% lower
Female employees earned on average 23.5% less than men in the private sector in 2022, INSEE recalled on Tuesday, a gap which is only partly explained by
“the lower volume of annual work of women”
, less often employed and more part-time.
For the same working hours, the average salary of women remains 14.9% lower because they work in “less paid”
sectors and positions
.
To reduce these income differences, feminist and trade union organizations are calling for an increase in social minimums, an increase in wages for feminized professions such as education, care or cleaning and a ban on imposed part-time work.
In the private sphere, women are
“on the front line”
for the education of children and the care of loved ones, notes Julie Ferrua, of Solidaires.
They are therefore penalized by the lack of public crèches or nursing homes, also denounce associations and unions, which demand
“the creation of public services for early childhood and loss of autonomy”
.
The government has promised to create 200,000 childcare places for young children by 2030.
“When parents cannot find a childcare solution, it is mainly mothers who take on unchosen parental care
. ”
confirms a recent study by the Department of Studies and Statistics of the social ministries.
To move towards better balance in the couple upon the arrival of a child, the government is working on a reform of parental leave, shorter but better compensated, up to 50% of salary, with distribution rules between the two. parents.