The Russian parliament has approved legislation that would ban nationals from countries that allow gender changes from adopting Russian children. This move, seen as essential to uphold traditional values, follows Russia’s own ban on gender changes last year as part of a broader crackdown on LGBTQ rights. The State Duma approved the adoption ban by a wide margin in the first reading, indicating that it is likely to become law. Lawmakers argue that this decision is necessary to protect children from potential harm in countries where gender reassignment is allowed.
Chairman Vyacheslav Volodin stated that the ban is intended to protect children and uphold traditional values, framing the measure as a way to prevent dangers faced by adoptees in countries where gender changes are permitted. Vasily Piskarev, another lawmaker who co-authored the legislation, has raised concerns about the risks of forced gender changes or sexual exploitation for Russian children adopted by citizens of Western countries.
Russia’s previous ban on adoptions by U.S. citizens and its ongoing conflict in Ukraine have already significantly reduced the number of adoptions by foreign nationals. In 2023, only six children were adopted by foreigners, according to data from the RBK news outlet. The adoption ban targeting countries allowing gender changes reflects Russia’s broader efforts to assert traditional values and resist what it perceives as Western moral decay.
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