Putin Advocates for Active Fatherhood to Boost Birth Rate

(MENAFN) Russian President Vladimir Putin has put forward a fresh initiative aimed at increasing birth rates across the country, emphasizing the need for policies that promote more engaged fatherhood alongside existing support for mothers.

During a Monday session of the Council for Strategic Development and National Projects, Putin highlighted the necessity of a broader and longer-term strategy to address the nation’s worsening demographic trends.

“The family is based on mutual respect, on the participation of both parents in raising children,” Putin stated. “Therefore, alongside supporting motherhood, we need to think through measures to support responsible fatherhood.”

The president explained that the initiative encourages men to play a more active role in day-to-day family life, in decisions surrounding parenthood, and in the upbringing of children. He also noted that responsible fatherhood involves maintaining a healthy lifestyle and safeguarding reproductive health for as long as possible.

Putin emphasized that the demographic plan should tackle systemic issues and provide continuous support for families. Russian authorities have long cautioned about a looming demographic crisis.

According to Rosstat, the Federal State Statistics Service, only 1.222 million children were born in 2024, the lowest yearly figure since 1999, representing a one-third drop compared to 2014. This decline mirrors a global trend of sub-replacement fertility rates seen in both developed and developing nations.

In an effort to counteract this decline, the government has implemented a variety of family support measures, including one-time payments for childbirth, expanded maternity benefits, and ongoing financial aid for parents.

Additionally, the Soviet-era “Mother Heroine” award, which offered monetary rewards to women with more than ten children, has been reinstated.

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