Russia's State Family Policy: Analysis of Current Legislation and Problematic Issues

Abstract

The subject of the study is the implementation of the state family policy in the Russian Federation, as an institution of family support, on the decent existence of which the functioning and development of any society and state directly depends. The authors consider in detail such aspects of the topic as the availability of a comprehensively elaborated regulatory framework as a foundation for the implementation of various measures laid down in the state family policy, including the provision of financial and economic measures aimed at supporting the family, as well as the preservation and strengthening of traditional family values (including countering the ideology of same-sex marriages, LGBT communities, childfree worldview, etc.). A special contribution of the authors to the study of the topic is the identification of legislative gaps in the regulation of certain types of family and legal relations, in particular in the regulation of marriage and family relations, countering the spread of same-sex marriages and sex change, as factors negatively affecting the strengthening and development of the family, the demographic situation in the Russian Federation. The result of the study is proposals to amend the current legislation of the Russian Federation regarding the grounds for refusal to register a marriage, invalidation of the marriage, as well as giving the prosecutor the authority to apply to the court with a statement of claim containing a requirement to recognize a marriage in which persons of the same sex are invalid. In addition, measures are proposed to strengthen counteraction to the propaganda of non-traditional views on gender identity (primarily among minors).