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- Deserved attention: for fathers with many children it is proposed to establish state awards
Deserved attention: for fathers with many children it is proposed to establish state awards
In Russia it is necessary to establish state awards for fathers with many children - such a proposal was made by the authors of the expert report of the ANO "National Priorities ", which analyzed the results of the national project "Demography". Now a number of regions already have such a measure of encouragement, but it is necessary to bring it to the federal level. This will help promote the culture of fatherhood, experts believe. In addition, it will certainly help to create movies and TV series, as well as educational events for schoolchildren. But before establishing awards, it is necessary to designate criteria for determining the measure of participation of fathers in the upbringing of children and family life, according to the State Duma.
How to raise the prestige of fathers
In the Year of the Family, which was 2024, a new approach to Russia's demographic policy was developed - it is a transition to a "family-centered" society, where the interests of the family are a priority for all spheres of society. And in 2025 the implementation of the new national project "Family" will begin, the objectives of which are to increase the birth rate, increase the number of large families and their well-being, create conditions for the successful combination of child rearing, education and professional realization of parents.
And in this approach, in particular, it is necessary to form a significant image of the father, experts of ANO "National Priorities" drew attention in the report "Combining Career and Family - Success of Russia's Demographic and Personnel Policy" (available at "Izvestiya"). They analyzed the results of the Year of the Family and the national project "Demography" (implemented from 2019), which was replaced by the national project "Family".
According to VTsIOM data, the document notes, there is a growing demand in the country to increase the importance of the father's role in the family - 44% of Russians surveyed say that the father should take part in education on an equal footing with the mother and play a key role in the development of children's personality and their knowledge of the world.
"Fathers are less and less often given the role of a 'secondary' parent," the document notes. - To strengthen families, it is necessary to form a significant image of the father, to discuss his role and authority more often in society, to broadcast the image of the father to the younger generation".
The solution of these tasks is possible only with the combination of state support measures, support of family employees by employers, public and media support.
"The image of the father should include the following features: the father is a strong male figure, a pillar of the family, a moral authority to whom all his relatives listen. He provides protection and broadcasts reliability. It is men who initiate the creation of a family and the birth of children. Experts note that a strong father figure is important not only in the family, but also at the state level," the report says.
The importance of the father's image can be raised, among other things, through the creation of paternal state awards, the authors of the report believe.
"Fathers with many children are worthy of awards for raising children no less than mothers. The presence of such awards demonstrates the recognition by society of their work," the report says.
Such awards already exist at the regional level, the authors emphasized. For example, in Khanty-Mansiysk Autonomous Okrug - Yugra the medal "Father's Glory" is given for worthy upbringing of five or more children.
Honorary sign "Father's Glory"
Among other suggestions of experts is to hold more events, where they would tell about the combination of family and career. For example, forums where successful family men and fathers with many children would share their experiences and inspiring stories. It is also suggested to create more movies and TV series about family lifestyles.
"Movie stories remain the most emotional format for delivering the right messages. We need good films about families with many children, about people who successfully combine family, work and self-realization," the authors of the report stressed.
Define the criteria for having many children
It is very important to raise the prestige of fatherhood in society, according to the State Duma deputies. Thus, the Committee on Family, Women and Children changed its name in 2023, becoming the Committee on Protection of the Family, Fatherhood, Motherhood and Childhood, its head Nina Ostanina recalled.
- Recognizing the high mission of motherhood, one cannot but agree that without a man, without a father, the birth of a child will not happen," she said. - It is necessary to address in the public space to exalt the image of the father.
The title "Heroine Mother" is now awarded to a woman for giving birth and raising ten children, she reminded.
Medal of honorary title "Heroine Mother"
- But the issue of awarding a father with many children will be more difficult to solve, because often men with many children may have children from more than one woman. Is he legally considered to have many children? - she pointed out.
When discussing the introduction of awards for fathers with many children, it is important to define the criteria, believe in the specialized committee.
If for centuries in Russia the father was the head of the family, support and provider, with rare exceptions, he had one wife for life, now the situation has changed, added the first deputy chairman of the Duma Committee Tatyana Butskaya.
- Unfortunately, now fathers of many children can have as many children as he had wives. And there is an option and without registration of marriage. A man can be recorded in the birth certificate of several children, but not actually bring them up, - she emphasized. - Therefore, the support measures are mainly through mothers. They are the ones who give birth to children, there is no arguing with that.
And both mom and dad (also grandparents) can take care of the child after birth, and they have the same right to both maternity leave and maternity payments, she reminded.
It is more expedient to award parents with many children with a common family insignia, the deputies believe. Or to mark parents for the special successes of their children, added Tatiana Butskaya.
- Now there is a question of giving special recognition to parents of Heroes of Russia. We are discussing the enshrinement of the awards "Mother of the Hero of Russia" and "Father of the Hero of Russia" in the legislation. Any award carries not only recognition but also financial support," she said.
How else they want to encourage fathers
Public activists have repeatedly made proposals to establish state awards for fathers with many children. Such an initiative came, for example, from the "Union of Fathers", recalled a member of the presidium of this organization, an expert of the "People's Front. Analytics" Pavel Sklyanchuk.
"Such measures will help men who would like to be heads of families with a large number of children, to see that the state supports them, will contribute to the realization of the national project "Family" and the presidential decree on traditional values", - he is sure.
There have been repeated proposals to lower the retirement age for fathers with many children by one year for each child, but not more than five years, added the head of the Public Chamber Commission on Demography, Protection of Family, Children and Traditional Family Values, Sergei Rybalchenko.
Issuance of pension certificate
- A public figure in Chukotka addressed the President with the same question last year. The head of state noted that such a measure should be considered. That is, the issue is on the public and state agenda," he assured.
Now some public organizations are establishing their own awards, he added. For example, the movement "Fathers of Russia" has established a medal of public recognition "Father of a Soldier". There is a national award "Father's Recognition".
Public Recognition Medal "Father of a Soldier"
- But I believe that we need a special state award that would reflect the contribution of not only fathers, but also parents in general, who for one reason or another raised a child without a second parent. It also happens, - emphasized Sergei Rybalchenko. - I would like to remind you that every tenth family is one in which the father raises children alone.
In some regions, there are already awards for parents who have shown special valor in raising children, but, as a rule, they are awarded to both parents, the expert pointed out. That's why there is a need for a state award, which could be used to encourage one of the parents in such a case.
