Evoking a "shock wave", Suzy Rojtman, member of the collective "Abortion in Europe - Women decide", fears that in view of "the importance of the United States in the world", the right to abortion is regressing "everywhere" and that "countries are inspired by the United States to deny this fundamental right".

In the crowd, a 16-year-old girl, Thaïs, held up a sign "130 abortion centers have closed in 15 years" (in France: editor's note).

She worries about a "snowball effect".

The Supreme Court of the United States put an end, on June 24, to the federal legal guarantee of abortion in all countries.

It is now up to the 50 states to decide on abortion.

Brandishing hangers painted red, the demonstrators - including men and many very young women - marched singing "From New York to Paris, free and free abortion" or "The abortion, we s' is beaten to win it, we will fight to keep it".

"Abortion saves lives", "Keep your laws off my body" (Take your laws off my body), "Leave women alone for once", "A right without means is not a right", could -we read on the placards of the participants.

Many were written in English.

Demonstration in Paris to defend the right to abortion, July 2, 2022 Christophe ARCHAMBAULT AFP

Organized at the call of the collective "Abortion in Europe - Women decide", joined by many feminist associations, unions and political parties, several demonstrations were planned across France.

In Bordeaux, the rally also numbered a few hundred people (400 according to the police, a thousand according to the organizers).

"It's not just the right to abortion but the right to freely dispose of our bodies. It's a fundamental right, which does not only concern France but women all over the world", declares Johanna Tilché-Jean , "artist and mother".

For Nicole Blet, retired nurse and member of Family Planning in Gironde, "the law (in France: Editor's note) on abortion has always been fragile", as has "its application".

In Toulouse, a few dozen people, especially women, gathered under the slogan "We are proud, women, radicals and angry!".

"In France, we are not outside the world. You have to be careful," explains Sandra Cassagnaud, 49.

French women "have more and more difficulty" in being taken care of for an abortion.

© 2022 AFP