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Duma asks govt to adopt fed program to protect orphans

The lower house is expected to pass the statement in connection with the third reading of the draft law banning Americans to adopt children in Russia

Photo ITAR-TASS

Photo ITAR-TASS

MOSCOW, December 21 (Itar-Tass) —— State Duma deputies ask the Russian government to adopt a federal programme “Russia without Orphans” and accelerate the consideration of the draft laws aimed at protection of children left without parental care. The lower house’s draft statement will be discussed this Friday.

The lower house is expected to pass the statement in connection with the third reading of the draft law banning Americans to adopt children in Russia.

In the Duma deputies’ view, there is a need to further improve the Russian legislation to support various forms of family adoption of children left without parental care, proceeding from the priority of a child's rights, the statement text reads.

Legislators believe comprehensive support must be provided for adoptive families, including high-tech medical care, financial support, improvement of housing conditions and tax preferences.

The deputies insist on the adoption of a special federal programme. First deputy head of the Duma Committee for Affairs of Families, Women and Children Olga Batalina (United Russia) said there was already a conception of such a document.

The Duma committees will be instructed to accelerate the consideration of the draft laws to protect orphans, support families with children and improve mechanisms for Russian citizens to adopt children.

Authorities in Russian regions are also expected to work out regional programmes to protect rights of orphans and adoptive families.

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