Reliable rear and mentor for children: Judge of the Constitutional Court Pavel Gridyushko on the role of the father in the modern family

On October 21, Belarus will celebrate Father’s Day for the fifth time – a young holiday designed to emphasize the special importance of the role of men in raising children, creating a strong and happy family. These messages are reflected in the Constitution, which enshrines the equal rights and duties of parents. We spoke with the judge of the Constitutional Court of the Republic of Belarus and the father of two daughters Pavel Gridyushko about how its provisions relate to modern life, international trends and personal experience.

- Mother’s Day and Family Day are already on our calendar, so the logical step was to officially recognize the role of the father in raising children and strengthening traditional family values. The initiative was voiced during the President’s Address to the Belarusian people and the National Assembly in 2022. The head of state supported the idea, enshrining it by Decree No. 198.

The new festive date carries a deep message: being a dad is not just the role of a breadwinner. The father is a stronghold of the family, a reliable rear, a support for the wife and a mentor for children. It is an example of courage and perseverance. We will always remember our fathers and grandfathers who gave their lives for the future of their children during the war. Today’s Belarusians are equal to these heroes, and we express our special gratitude to those fathers who are guarding our security and raising true patriots.

- The Constitution established the concept of marriage as the union of a woman and a man. Why was it important to write this seemingly obvious truth?

- Behind this norm is the recognition of the fundamental value of the family and the understanding that the well-being of the child directly depends on the care of both parents with the support of the state. The Basic Law enshrines the equality of spouses, but it is equally important that the Constitution emphasizes not only rights but also duties. Parents are responsible for the health, development and education of children, they must prepare them for socially useful work, instill respect for the laws, historical and national traditions of Belarus. These provisions set a clear benchmark: the upbringing of a child is a common, equal responsibility of the father and mother. In Belarus, the usual image of the father is changing. Dads with children can be seen in clinics, playgrounds and parent meetings. How do you assess these changes in the perception of paternity in Belarusian society?

- Another important aspect that the state emphasizes through this holiday is strengthening responsible fatherhood and addressing the double burden on women. Traditionally, a significant part of household chores and childcare fell on the shoulders of women, which often limited their opportunities for professional development. According to Belstat, on average, women spend almost twice as much time on housekeeping and childcare as men. More active involvement of fathers in the upbringing of children helps to significantly reduce this burden. UN research on the role of fathers and family policy in the world points to significant demographic and socio-economic transformations in many countries over the past decades. Belarus is no exception. Our men are increasingly involved in family planning, attending prenatal examinations and childbirth. However, it is important not to contrast the roles of mother and father. It is about the joint responsibility of parents and creating conditions that allow each of them to fully participate in the life of the child.

- Social policy encourages greater participation of men in family life.

- Indeed, legal conditions were being created to balance the situation of mothers and fathers, which partly solved the problem of women's dual employment. A father, for example, may take parental leave until he reaches the age of three. Moreover, the system of providing leave is flexible - it can be divided into parts of any duration. Belarus went further. So, from 2020, fathers at the birth of a child are given the opportunity to take leave of up to 14 days. Both mothers and fathers raising two children under the age of 16 are entitled to one extra day off per month. Parents with many children, as well as parents of a child with disabilities, can get an additional day off per week or choose a reduced working day by one hour.

- You're the father of two daughters. Has your personal experience changed your understanding of parental responsibility?

- Being a dad is one of the most honorable and significant missions of a man on Earth. With the birth of a child, the life of a man, its meaning changes forever, because he becomes an example for imitation, a support of the family. A real man is manifested in how he treats the child, what an example he sets and how much time he devotes to the family. Boys throughout life carry the foundation that their father laid for them, and girls, growing up, look for the same qualities in their chosen ones. It seems that parents teach children, but in fact children also teach adults – responsibility, sensitivity, the ability to notice the main thing. When raising children, it is especially clear that parental responsibility is not just a set of individual decisions or instructions. It is important for me not only to explain to my daughters what is right, but also to follow these principles. What would you wish your fathers on their holiday?

- I want to assure you that the state will continue to make efforts to strengthen the institution of the family – this is our absolute priority. It is important to create as many families as possible in Belarus and to have as many children as possible growing up in an atmosphere of care and attention. I want fathers to take time to communicate with their children and remember that education begins with a personal example. In the end, future generations of Belarusians will judge us not only by our deeds, but also by the way we raised our children.

gorbatenko@sb.by