It has been 50 years since Simone Veil gave her famous speech to the National Assembly, words that made history: “ No woman willingly resorts to abortion “. This Friday, January 17, 2025, it is 50 years, to the day, since the entry into force of the law which decriminalized abortion.
From our special correspondent in Toulon, in the Var,
Since 1975, there have been many advances in access to voluntary termination of pregnancy (abortion) in France. The latest one gives midwives the possibility of carrying out instrumental abortions under the same conditions as doctors.
Behind the glass doors of the Sainte Musse hospital in Toulon – Var is the department where there are the most abortions per inhabitant in the metropolis -, after an elevator and a maze of corridors, you can meet Julia, wise- woman authorized to perform voluntary terminations of pregnancy.
“ Every Monday, there is a midwife who does abortion consultations. On Monday morning, we are in the operating room to do the surgical abortions and then, in the afternoon, we have a slot to do consultations and set up the medical abortions or schedule a surgery slot. », explains the midwife.
Surgical abortions are those which require an operation and which allow women to abort up to the legal maximum period of 14 weeks of pregnancy. Volunteer midwives, like Julia, have been able to practice it since last April. “ The goal was to be able to respond to growing demand, to guarantee access to the right to abortion and to be able to respond to patient demand, explains Julia. Very often, during calls, they tell us: “I want it to be quick and for it to happen quickly.” »
So, Julia and one of her colleagues take turns every week. “ There is a bond of trust that is woven and allows us to put them on a real care pathway, that they are followed », rejoices the midwife.
Also readJanuary 17, 1975: the Veil law decriminalizes abortion in France
A breakthrough for midwives and women
A step forward for midwives, but especially for women, explains Doctor Quentin Berl, gynecologist-obstetrician and head of the City-hospital network on abortions in Toulon: “ This has been a request for quite a long time from certain midwives who already performed medical abortions in the city. It is an act which technically, with training, can be carried out in complete safety. And the possibility for these midwives to do it is really a very good step forward in facilitating access. »
Sometimes, before entering the hospital doors, future patients contact the Var Family Planning Department. In the premises, in full turmoil for this anniversary of the Veil law, Valérie, advisor to Family Planning in Toulon, explains having already observed the benefits of the authorization for midwives to practice instrumental abortion: “ Now that midwives have the authorization to do it, it also allows us to free up slots for contraception, to allow other women to come. »
Even if we can always go further, according to her: “ We, at the level of instrumental abortion, we guide. This allows us to have greater access to abortion, to be able to meet demand. Afterwards, the midwife will perform a medical procedure. I am in favor of training medical staff to be able to listen and hear their feelings and emotions. Let it not just be a medical procedure. »
In France, more than one abortion in five is carried out surgically.
Also read“History”: France includes abortion in its Constitution