RUSSIA RELIGION NEWS


Most Russians approve Supreme Court's ruling on parental rights

SURVEY SHOWS RUSSIANS' ATTITUDE TO IDEA OF DEPRIVING SECTARIANS OF PARENTAL RIGHTS

RIA Novosti, 4 December 2017

 

More than three-quarters of Russians speak in favor of removing parental rights of those parents who involve their children in sects and illegal organizations, a survey of the All-Russian Center for Study of Public Opinion showed.

 

Previously the Russian Supreme Court confirmed the recommendation to deny the parental rights of people who involve children in sects, extremist organizations, or terrorist organizations.

 

"Russians think that parents who involve the children in sects and illegal organizations deserve harsh punishment: 79% of our fellow citizens support the suggestion for depriving them of parental rights," materials of the survey, which is in the possession of RIA Novosti, say.

 

Such a measure is opposed by 16% of respondents; most often this point of view is supported by the argument that it is better for children to be with their parents than to be in a children's home, that parents know better the needs of a child, that each case is individual, and that it is better to conduct explanatory work with parents.

 

Sociologists came to the conclusion that among Russians there now is no single opinion about the strengthening of governmental measures for protection of children: while 45% say that thereby the interests of a child will be met, 43% are concerned that this will lead to unnecessary interference by the state in family relations.

 

At the same time, more than half (56%) of respondents now say that it is necessary to adopt additional measures for protecting the rights of minors in Russia; in 2013 such an opinion was held by more than a third (36%) of Russians.

 

However, a majority of survey participants could not state that this is what should be done (70% found it difficult to say). Among suggestions made by respondents, what was heard most often was a suggestion to restrict children's access to computer games on the Internet (8%), or to increase control for needy families (5%).

 

The general director of the Foundation of the All-Russian Center for the Study of Public Opinion, Konstantin Abramov, kandidat of psychological sciences, noted that in recent years anxiety with regard to the security of the younger generation has been growing in society.

 

"The emergence of new technologies and use by children of new means of communication is the new reality, which is viewed by older generations with concern. And involvement of children by their parents in nontraditional religious or public organizations that are prohibited by law is a red line for parents who, if they cross it, may (in the opinion of a majority of citizens) be deprived of parental rights," the expert explained.

 

The nationwide survey by the Sputnik All-Russian Center for Study of Public Opinion was conducted from 18 to 26 November 2017, among 1,200 respondents older than 18 years. The method of the survey was telephone interview and the margin of error is less than 3.5%. (tr. by PDS, posted 6 December 2017)


Background article:
Supreme Court threatens parental rights of, for example, Jehovah's Witnesses
November 14, 2017

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