The State Duma adopted in the third reading a draft law on youth policy, which, among other things, expands the age range within which citizens of the Russian Federation are considered young people - from 14 to 35 years old inclusive.

The law defines at the federal level such concepts as “youth”, “young family”, “youth policy”, “youth public associations”, the press service of the lower chamber specified.

“In fact, it was proposed to consolidate the status of youth.

It will include Russian citizens between the ages of 14 and 35, inclusive, ”the statement says.

Previously, the maximum age at which Russians were considered youth in terms of legislation was five years less.

In addition, the law determines the goals and main directions of youth policy, and also regulates the relations arising between the subjects implementing it.

Thus, the text of the law specifies that youth policy is a set of measures aimed at creating conditions for the development of young people, their civil-patriotic and spiritual and moral education, as well as providing this category of citizens with opportunities for self-realization “in order to achieve sustainable socio-economic development, global competitiveness, national security of the country ”.

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"The implementation will be carried out taking into account the social needs of youth, national traditions of the territories, including within the framework of state programs, federal target programs, state programs of subjects, municipal programs that provide measures to support youth, young families and youth public associations," the State Duma said ...

In addition, the state will monitor the provision of interethnic and inter-confessional harmony in the youth environment, as well as prevent the formation of extremist youth associations and other manifestations of the ideology of extremism and nationalism.

As noted in the State Duma, the amendments adopted in the Federal Law "On State Support for Youth and Children's Public Associations" stipulate the possibility of providing state support to youth associations of citizens under the age of 35 inclusive.

“President Vladimir Putin has repeatedly touched upon the topic of youth policy in his messages to the Federal Assembly (2018-2019), emphasizing that“ talented youth is one of the strongest competitive advantages of Russia, ”the explanatory note says.

Svetlana Bessarab, a member of the State Duma Committee on Labor, Social Policy and Veterans Affairs, in a conversation with RT, called the increase in the age of youth a "global trend", noting that all categories of citizens and all age groups have become a little "rejuvenated."

“Moreover, ... for young people, various legislative acts provide for various kinds of preferences, social guarantees and benefits.

And everywhere, in every law, youth is understood in its own way: up to 30 years old, up to 35 years old, ”the deputy noted.

She added that it was logical to bring all this to uniformity, so that there was a clear understanding of who belongs to the relevant social group and what rights they have.

“Taking into account the amendments to the legislation, many young people will have the opportunity to extend the right to additional guarantees and benefits for five years,” she concluded.

One of the initiators of the initiative, MP Boris Paikin, said that after the adoption of the law "it will make it possible to secure the rights of youth regardless of the region of residence, which is quite important, given the current trends in remote work and the increasing mobility of the population."

He also noted that for the first time his “target audience” took part in the creation of the document.

“It will provide a basis for the unification of forms and types of support in all regions of the country.

Thanks to this, the inequality of measures of social support for young people and young families in the regions will be eliminated, as well as discrepancies in the age qualification, "RIA Novosti quoted him as saying.

The preparation of the document began in 2019 by members of the State Council working group in the direction of "Youth Policy" with the participation of members of the Federation Council and State Duma deputies, reminds TASS.

During the first half of 2020, the document was being finalized taking into account the proposals received from the regions of Russia, children's and youth public associations and movements.