In a bid to address its declining birthrate, Russian lawmakers have introduced legislation that prohibits the promotion of child-free choices, aiming to reinforce traditional values and increase population growth.
Russia Legislation Seeks to Curb Child-Free Advocacy Amid Falling Birthrates
Russia Legislation Seeks to Curb Child-Free Advocacy Amid Falling Birthrates
A new law seeks to ban promotion of child-free lifestyles in Russia, reflecting a governmental shift towards traditional family values.
In a significant legislative move on Tuesday, Russian lawmakers voted to prohibit the promotion of child-free lifestyles, a decision rooted in the government's efforts to combat a dwindling birthrate. The State Duma, the lower house of Parliament, passed the bill unanimously, which targets any form of “propaganda” that encourages individuals to refrain from having children. This includes content shared across various platforms, including social media, traditional media, films, and advertisements that may glorify the choice to remain child-free.
The proposed legislation carries stiff penalties for those who violate it, imposing fines of approximately $4,000 for individuals and up to $50,000 for organizations promoting such narratives. With widespread support from the Kremlin, the bill is anticipated to gain approval from the Federation Council, the upper house, before being signed into law by President Vladimir Putin.
Highlighting the seriousness of the demographic challenge, Kremlin spokesman Dmitri S. Peskov referred to the issue of declining birthrates as one of Russia's key challenges. He emphasized that measures must be taken to bolster childbearing rates and that anything counterproductive to this goal must be eliminated from public discourse. This legislative initiative is part of a broader strategy to project Russia as a defender of traditional values in contrast to what is perceived as the moral decay of the West.
