Calls to not have children have been banned in Russia

The Russian parliament has unanimously approved a bill banning the "advocacy of the conscious refusal to have children" or the "promotion of a child-free ideology." The new bill includes hefty fines for "child-free advertising."

The Russian parliament has unanimously approved a bill banning the "advocacy of the conscious refusal to have children" or the "promotion of a child-free ideology."

This document, unanimously supported by all deputies of the State Duma, restricts the mass distribution of materials that can be considered as propaganda against the birth of children, including films and mass media.

"There is no country without children," State Duma Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin said before the vote. He noted that the law is aimed at supporting demographic growth, which is important for the economic future of the Russian Federation.

The new draft law provides for large fines for "propaganda without children": up to 400,000 rubles (about 4,100 USD) for individuals and up to 5 million rubles (about 51,000) for organizations that spread such ideas through mass media, films, advertising and online platforms. dollars).

At the request of the Russian Orthodox Church, the draft law included a comment that "disseminating information about monasticism and the monastic lifestyle, observing the vow of celibacy and celibacy" does not violate Russian law.

The bill still needs to be approved by the upper house of parliament, the Federation Council, on November 20, and then signed by President Vladimir Putin. In addition, the deputies approved a corresponding bill prohibiting the adoption of Russian children by citizens of countries where gender reassignment is not prohibited.