Luxembourg
On 3 March 2026, the Chamber of Deputies in Luxembourg approved the first constitutional vote to enshrine the freedom to have recourse to voluntary termination of pregnancy. The proposed amendment states: "The freedom to have recourse to voluntary termination of pregnancy is guaranteed. The law shall determine the conditions under which that freedom is exercised." This marks a significant political step, though a second vote, at least three months later, is required to complete the constitutional revision.
The initiative originated from Deputy Marc Baum of déi Lénk, who proposed the amendment on 7 May 2024. Initially, the text aimed to guarantee both the right to abortion and contraception. However, after amendments and consultations, the final wording focuses solely on the freedom to have recourse to voluntary termination of pregnancy. The amendment is to be inserted into Article 15 of the Constitution, which addresses gender equality.
While the first vote has been successful, the constitutional amendment process requires a second vote with a two-thirds majority, separated by at least three months. If the second vote is successful, Luxembourg will become the second country, after France in 2024, to enshrine abortion rights at the constitutional level. This move aims to strengthen the legal protection of abortion rights against potential future challenges.
It's important to note that this constitutional amendment does not alter existing legislation on voluntary termination of pregnancy. The current laws, which have been progressively liberalized since 2012, will remain in effect, with the constitutional change serving to reinforce the existing legal framework.
For more detailed information, refer to the original article: Luxembourg: first vote to place abortion in the Constitution
