CIVICUS discusses proposed restrictive legislation in Russia with Eva Levenberg, a lawyer with the independent human rights group OVD-Info.
Russia’s lower house of parliament recently passed a bill banning what it calls ‘child-free propaganda’ that promotes a ‘childless lifestyle’ in media, films and online content. The move is part of the government’s promotion of what it characterises as ‘traditional family values’ and efforts to raise Russia’s low birthrate to address demographic challenges exacerbated by the war on Ukraine. Civil society fears the move will further restrict freedom of expression and women’s rights while doing nothing to address the financial insecurity that makes many women choose not to have children. The bill is yet to be passed by parliament’s upper house and given presidential approval.