Russia Mulling On Establishing 'Ministry of Sex' To Combat Declining Birth Rate Amid Demographic Crisis

Russia is considering the establishment of a "ministry of sex" to address the country's declining birth rate, according to Mirror.

Nina Ostanina, 68, a staunch ally of President Vladimir Putin and chairwoman of the Russian Parliament's Committee on Family Protection, Paternity, Maternity, and Childhood, is currently reviewing a petition calling for the creation of such a ministry.

Photo Credit: PTI file photo

This move is part of a broader strategy by Russian officials to combat the demographic crisis, exacerbated by the significant loss of life due to the ongoing war in Ukraine, now in its third year.

As reported by Moskvich magazine, a petition initiated by the GlavPR agency proposes the establishment of a "ministry of sex" to lead efforts to boost the birth rate.

Deputy Mayor Anastasia Rakova, a known supporter of Putin, highlighted the urgency of procreation in line with Kremlin goals.

"Everyone in the city knows that there is a special test which allows us to establish the fertility level of a woman, her ability to get pregnant," Rakova told Mirror, urging women to prioritise having children.

Proposed Initiatives:

- One proposal suggests turning off the internet-and even the lights-between 10 pm and 2 am to encourage couples to engage in intimate activities, according to *Mirror*.

- Another idea is for the government to pay stay-at-home mothers for housework, with these earnings contributing to their pension calculations. There is also a suggestion to fund first dates up to 5,000 roubles (£40) to promote relationships.

- A proposal also suggests that public funds cover wedding-night hotel stays for couples, up to a value of 26,300 roubles (£208), to encourage pregnancies.

- In various regions, initiatives are already being rolled out to incentivise childbirth. In Khabarovsk, female students aged 18 to 23 can receive £900 for having a child, while in Chelyabinsk, the amount is £8,500 for a first-born.

- Yevgeny Shestopalov, a regional health minister, even recommended that Russians use their coffee and lunch breaks for "procreation," stating, "You can engage in procreation during breaks because life flies by too quickly."

Authorities Probing Women's Personal Lives

In Moscow, authorities are investigating women's personal lives to encourage higher birth rates.

Female public sector workers have been asked to fill out detailed questionnaires about their sexual and reproductive health, which suggests a plan for nationwide data collection.

Those who refuse to answer the questionnaires are required to attend doctor's appointments to respond to the same questions.

The questionnaire includes highly personal inquiries such as:

- When did you begin sexual activity?
- Do you use condoms or hormonal birth control?
- Do you experience pain or bleeding during intercourse?
- Have you experienced infertility or had pregnancies? If so, how many?
- Do you have any children, or are you planning to have more within the next year?

Employees in state-run cultural institutions have expressed frustration at being required to provide these details to their HR departments.

Some submitted blank questionnaires but were later instructed to provide their names and attend interviews with state doctors to answer the questions in person. Additionally, a free fertility testing programme in Moscow has already attracted 20,000 women.