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According to UN statistics, Russia had the highest divorce rate in the world in 2010. The country’s population has also declined drastically in the last 20 years, with its population currently standing at 142 million compared with 150 million in 1991. Domestic violence is also rife in with reports stating that approximately 2,000 children are killed by relatives each year in Europe’s largest nation. In the hope of addressing their demographic nightmare, Russian authorities announced the formation of a new public holiday, Family Day, in 2008. Celebrated on the 8th July, Family Day is seen by many as an alternative to Valentine’s Day and sees all married couples that have celebrated their 25th anniversaries in the past year presented with medals to mark their achievement. Approximately 5,000 medals are to be given to Russian couples this year, with 400 of them being sent to couples resident in other European countries including France, Germany and the United Kingdom. On the eve of Family Day, courts throughout the country suggested that they refrain from registering divorces on family day declaring that this would give couples an extra day to “re-consider” their decision to divorce. Russian Authorities have also used Family Day to further promote their ‘Give me Life’ campaign – an initiative designed to curb Russia’s high abortion rate.