Children in Russia were the victims of more than 100,000 crimes last year, with about 2,000 killed, the country's ombudsman for children's rights said on Wednesday.
"More than 100,000 crimes against children were committed in our country in 2009. Two thousand children were killed, just as many died in road accidents and a little more than 2,000 as a result of other accidents," Pavel Astakhov said during a visit to the North Caucasus republic of Karachai-Circassia.
Astakhov added that statistics showed that over the next 10 years the number of children in Russia would decrease by about 300,000 annually.
"Children grow up, but we haven't given birth to new babies over the last 10 years. Under the positive demographic policy in the country the children population declines, up to 2025 it will decrease by 5 million," he said.
Astakhov also said that a children's ombudsman would be appointed in each region of Russia by the end of the year. "The relevant decree has been signed by the Russian president."
CHERKESSK, May 19 (RIA Novosti)
