Thousands protest against new French bioethics bill ahead of Senate review

Issued on: 20/01/2020 - 09:44Modified: 20/01/2020 - 09:44

French law currently only allows women in heterosexual relationships to access medically assisted procreation (MAP).

The French government now plans to extend MAP to single women and lesbian couples.

“Many of us have come from all over France to raise the alarm: the child, the father and the mother are in danger,” said the president of Manif pour tous, the main organisation behind anti-gay marriage protests in 2013, Ludovine de la Rochère.

Many families were among the protesters.

“We’re here for every child,” said a male protester pushing a pram. “They have the right to have one father and one mother. Many people today are protesting in order to protect society. The family is part of that society. The family is the foundation of it.”

Those against the reform say that it amounts to commodifying the human body. One female protester described the reform as “decadent”.

“I think that assisted reproductive technology should be reserved only for married couples, not for single women,” she said. “There’s adoption. There are other solutions than making a child just for fun.

Protesters have already announced further demonstrations set for Tuesday and Wednesday outside the Senate as French lawmakers scrutinise the bill for the final time.

(FRANCE 24 with AFP)