Italy's Government Resists Inclusion of Abortion Rights in G7 Declaration
- Italian Prime Minister Meloni resisted attempts to declare abortion a 'right' at the G7 summit.
- Italy's hard-right government is seeking to scrap any reference to safe access to abortion in the G7 declaration.
- The omission of abortion rights from the final G7 declaration led to diplomatic tensions.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni resisted efforts by French President Emmanuel Macron and others at the G7 summit to declare abortion a "right." Macron's push for abortion rights has faced challenges, with Meloni's conservative party gaining political strength. Meloni's refusal to include explicit language on abortion rights in the G7 joint statement led to disagreements among member countries. The clash over abortion rights reflects differing values within the G7. Meloni's government has been accused of removing references to "safe and legal" abortions in the G7 summit's final declaration. The ongoing negotiations over the wording of the declaration highlight the division among G7 members on abortion rights. Italy's recent approval of a law granting anti-abortion groups access to abortion facilities contrasts with France's constitutional guarantee of the "freedom" to have an abortion. Pope Francis is expected to address the risks of artificial intelligence at the summit.