"Childfree propaganda" banned in Russia

The Russian authorities have been discussing a ban on "childfree propaganda" since 2022. This issue was returned to in September 2024, at the suggestion of the Chairman of the Federation Council Valentina Matvienko, who actively supported the ban on the "childfree movement" (there is a feeling that elderly grandmothers and grandfathers do not understand what they are saying).

On November 12, deputies of the State Duma of the Russian Federation adopted in the second and third readings Amendments, restricting the dissemination of information "promoting the conscious refusal to have children".

Childfree is a term to describe people who have consciously decided not to have children. Unlike those who do not have children for medical or other reasons, childfree is precisely a choice: such people do not want to be parents and prefer to spend their time, resources, and energy on something else, such as career, travel, hobbies, or personal development.

For many, childfree is a way of life and part of values. They believe that it is possible to be happy without a family with children, and that society should not put pressure on a person in this matter.

What's going on?

The Russian authorities have taken a step towards limiting people's choices in terms of whether to have children. In fact, now It is forbidden to disseminate information that talks about life without children as a completely normal choice, especially if that content might inspire someone not to start a family. If earlier you could find articles or videos about the philosophy of "childfree", now it is almost banned: such sites will be blocked, in advertising and the media it will be banned altogether, and films that somehow talk about the conscious abandonment of children will not receive distribution certificates.

Fines

Huge fines will be introduced for violation - up to 5 million rubles. Such amendments were made to Article 6.21 of the Code of Administrative Offenses ("Propaganda of non-traditional sexual relations and (or) preferences, gender reassignment").

At the same time, the Russian Orthodox Church insisted on not touching the topic monasticism, even if it is also supposed to abandon the family and children.

What will happen now? There will be further degradation of the population, as the law can reduce access to different information and make society more one-sided. Young people will have fewer chances to learn about different worldviews, that it is possible to build a full life without children.

• At the same meeting on November 12, the State Duma adopted a law prohibiting the adoption of children by citizens of countries where "gender reassignment" is allowed.