Russia mandates counseling for childfree women in push for higher birth rates

Russia has introduced new measures to encourage higher birth rates, including mandatory psychological counselling for women who choose not to have children. The policy follows statements from senior officials reinforcing traditional views on motherhood and family planning. Gennady Onishchenko, a prominent academic and deputy president of the Russian Academy of Education, has claimed that women are genetically predisposed to want children. The Health Ministry recently approved a document requiring medical psychologists to counsel women who do not intend to become mothers. This move aligns with broader government efforts to promote larger families and reduce abortion rates.

Onishchenko, an academician at the Russian Academy of Sciences, argued that the desire for children is biologically ingrained in women. However, he also admitted that society has failed to create proper conditions for motherhood, particularly for young women balancing education and parenthood. The government's pronatalist policies include financial incentives, such as a 100,000-ruble bonus for pregnant students and schoolgirls who carry their pregnancies to term, introduced on 1 March 2026. Stricter abortion laws and bans on what officials call 'childlessness propaganda' have also been implemented. Yet, no specific support measures have been announced to help young mothers manage studies alongside raising children. Instead, Health Minister Mikhail Murashko has urged women to prioritise childbearing over education and careers.

The new counselling requirement reinforces Russia's push to increase birth rates through policy and rhetoric. While officials emphasise genetic and societal expectations for women to become mothers, critics note a lack of practical support for those juggling education and parenthood. The measures reflect a broader trend of state intervention in reproductive choices.