- Title: IVF bill passes first reading at French parliament, opponents cry foul
- Date: 15th October 2019
- Summary: BIOLOGIST LOOKING AT SCREEN SPERMS UNDER MICROSCOPE ON SCREEN EMBRYOS ON PETRI DISH
- Embargoed: 29th October 2019 16:58
- Keywords: France bioethics law vote parliament Manif pour tous LGBT rights IVF women's rights
- Location: PARIS, FRANCE
- City: PARIS, FRANCE
- Country: France
- Topics: Lawmaking,Government/Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA003B17LXL3
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: France's lower house of parliament on Tuesday (October 15) passed the first reading of a bill that would legalise medically assisted procreation (PMA) in the country, which has drawn strong resistance from conservative groups who say it would bring "chaos" to society.
Lawmakers passed the bioethics bill 359-114, which aims to extend access to PMA to lesbian couples and single women.
Until now, lesbian couples and single women in France wishing to bear children have to seek procedures abroad, most commonly in Belgium and Spain, forcing them to spend thousands of euros, to take a leave of absence and to see a new set of doctors.
The bill will now be passed onto the Senate, then to France's Legal Commission before a second and definitive vote in the parliament.
Despite passing in the assembly, the bill has divided opinions among the French public, with thousands rallying against the bill last week.
"This bill means insecurity, inequality," said Olivia Sarton, a member of the "Marchons Enfants" alliance composed of conservative groups against the bill, during a news conference on Tuesday.
Still, nearly two-thirds of French people are in favour of extending the PMA. A BVA poll in late April found that 65 percent agreed to it, 10 points higher than in 2014, a year after the same-sex marriage law was passed.
(Production: Ardee Napolitano) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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