Published 2023-11-30 23.47
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Russian birth rates have been falling since the 90s.
Now, Russian women are being encouraged to give birth to more children while restricting access to abortion.
– Let’s remember that in many Russian families our grandparents and their mothers had seven, eight or even more children, says President Putin.
It is no news that the birth rate in Russia is declining. Since the 90s, the numbers have gone down and the war in Ukraine has meant that a large number of people have died and fled the country.
At a conference chaired by Russian Orthodox leader Patriarch Kirill, Putin addressed participants via video link this week. In the speech, Putin chose to highlight the Russian family and sent an appeal to the Russian people to give birth to more children.
Want to revive “wonderful traditions”
Putin announced that he had signed a decree declaring next year the “Year of the Family”. Then he chose to address the country’s “demographic challenges” with a new move – urging Russians to have large families.
– Many maintain the tradition of a strong family for several generations, where four, five or more children are born. Let us remember that in many Russian families our grandparents and their mothers had seven, eight or even more children, Putin said.
The Russian president wants to revive this “wonderful tradition” and said that large families should become the norm in Russia.
Limits access to abortion
A higher birth rate is not the only move to increase the population in the country. This week reported the BBC that Russia is trying to limit access to abortions to meet the demographic crisis.
In addition to restrictions on abortion, private clinics must also be pressured not to perform the procedure and trying to persuade someone to have an abortion must be criminalized.
The Russian Orthodox Church, which has strong ties to the Kremlin and its leader Patriarch Kirill, is said to have played a major role in the decisions. At the conference this week, Kirill described abortion as a “national disaster” destroying Russian society.
– The solution to the abortion problem is not only the plan for a legal ban, said Kirill.
In addition to a ban, Kirill wants to see work aimed at children so that they understand “moral values and ideals”.
Could be problematic for the military
At the same time, Russia has more demographic problems than the low number of children being born. The war in Ukraine has also meant a population decline for Russia.
According to the NATO Secretary General, more than 300,000 Russians have died in the war, reports Business Insider. At the same time, between 800,000 and 920,000 people have fled the country as a result of the war.
The declining population could become a problem for the military. According to the BBC, Russian authorities are worried that the declining number of young people could make it difficult for the military to recruit, while it could affect the country’s economy.