G7 Leaders Reaffirm Health Rights Amid Abortion Dispute

The Group of Seven leaders plan to reaffirm commitments made on sexual and reproductive rights from their previous meeting in Japan. However, their final 2024 statement avoids the term 'abortion,' fearing disputes. A conflict arose between France and Italy over the inclusion of 'safe and legal abortion.'

Group of Seven leaders were set to reiterate commitments they made at their meeting in Japan last year on sexual and reproductive rights but did not directly mention the word abortion in their 2024 final statement, a draft showed.

"We reiterate our commitments in the Hiroshima Leaders' Communique to universal access to adequate, affordable, and quality health services for women, including comprehensive sexual and reproductive health and rights for all," the draft communique said. The issue caused a dispute between France and Italy after Rome -- which holds the G7 rotating presidency -- demanded the removal of a reference to "safe and legal abortion" from the final statement.