Russia has one of the world's highest abortion rates and cutting this could help it stem a demographic disaster that is looming as its population shrinks. Under the new law approved by the lower house of parliament, 10 percent of the space used in abortion ads must carry a list of possible negative consequences for women, including infertility, RIA news agency reported.
According to the lower house's site, duma.gov.ru, 2007 saw 1.5 million abortions - almost on a par with the number of children born that year. "These ads make young girls believe they won't have any problems interrupting a pregnancy," RIA quoted parliamentarian Viktor Zvagelsky as saying of current advertisements.
He said the law was drawn up as "the situation with abortions in Russia was depressing."
