Kochanova: childfree trend is alien for Belarusians

The family with children is a traditional value in Belarusian society, while the childfree trend is alien to Belarusians – as noted by Natalya Kochanova, the Chairperson of the Council of the Republic of the National Assembly

“There are a lot of different ideas now, but these are not our traditional values,” Ms. Kochanova said. “A very large-scale event dedicated to family values is planned in the Council of the Republic. Together with the Belarusian Orthodox Church, we want it to be not just a round table discussion or a conference. Using life examples, we want to show the person’s main mission on our planet. Clearly, it is the continuation of the human race, since life development is simply impossible without the man.”

Ms. Kochanova added that a family – which consists of the mother, the father and where a long-awaited and desired child is born – is a traditional value for Belarusians. “Meanwhile, when people decide not to have children at all, although they can... There may be different reasons in life: i.e. health. However, in this case, new technologies come to help; these have already been introduced in our healthcare system. It was decided at the state level that the first IVF procedure is free, that the state pays for it,” she said.

“Speaking in general, our traditional values are, of course, a family with children. This is right. Everything else is invented trends that are now actively promoted in other countries, but they are not for us. They are not for Belarus and not for Belarusians," Ms. Kochanova stressed.