Ukraine: Support to the implementation of the judicial reform

Project title

Support to the judicial reform in Ukraine

project duration

The project duration is 31 months: 1 June 2018 to 30 December 2020.

Project budget

Euro 1,110,000 (reduced to Euro 860,000)

Project partners

Supreme Court, Ukrainian National Bar Association, High Council of Justice, High Qualification Commission of Judges, Office of the President of Ukraine, Ministry of Justice.

Key issues to be addressed

the reform of the judiciary in terms of the practice derived from the adopted legislation (2016-2020), including uniformity of judicial practice and functioning of the new courts and judicial institutions.
changes in the system of the bar including the introduction of the obligatory representation in courts by advocates and strengthening of the system of the free legal aid.

Brief description of project

The project is being implemented in Ukraine in co-operation with Ukrainian counterparts – the Judicial Reform Council, the Supreme Court, the High Council of Justice, the High Qualification Commission of Judges of Ukraine, the Council of Judges of Ukraine, and others. The project is managed by the Justice and Legal Co-Operation Department of the Directorate General of Human Rights and Rule of Law.

Project objectives

To support Ukraine in the completion of the judicial reform and in the implementation of the newly-adopted legislation with the aim of ensuring functioning and organisation of judiciary, bar and free legal aid system under newly established legislation are in compliance with the Council of Europe standards.

Project components

1 – Support to the legislative development

Aim of the component: to provide advice to the Ukrainian authorities in developing legislation on functioning of the judiciary and bar, including through the provision of expertise/assessments/opinions/recommendations

2 – Support to the development of functioning of courts and judicial institutions under the reformed legislation

Aim of the component: to support the development of functioning of courts and judicial institutions, namely, the High Council of Justice, under new legislation so as new court practice, practice of the High Council of Justice within the new powers, issues of publicity with regard to judges, practice of management of the judicial dossier are in line with the CoE standards

3 – Support to the development of bar in Ukraine

Aim of the component: to support development of the new legal institute of the obligatory representation in courts by advocates and of the free legal aid system on civil and administrative cases so as respective procedural aspects and quality of legal advices are in line with the CoE standards and the best European practise

Expected results

The amended legislation in Ukraine allows the judiciary and the bar in their practice to adhere to Council of Europe standards .
Functioning of courts and judicial institutions under the reformed legislation framework follows the standards of the Council of Europe and the relevant European practices.
The involvement of the bar in litigation in terms of procedure and practice comply with the Council of Europe standards.

Project News

Back Communication approaches of the judiciary as a part of building public confidence towards courts

Ukraine: Support to the implementation of the judicial reform

On 15 June 2017, the round table “Effective communication of the judiciary as a part of public confidence towards courts” took place in Odessa, Ukraine. The round table was organised by the Council of Europe project “Support to the implementation of the judicial reform in Ukraine” jointly with the Judicial Reform Council and the All-Ukrainian non-governmental organisation “Ukrainian Bar Association”.

The event was attended by judges, speakers and representatives of press-centres of courts of Odessa oblast and other regions of Ukraine, representatives of mass-media and civil society organisations, as well as by representatives and experts of the Council of Europe.

The participants have discussed main approaches of an effective communication of the judiciary with society and mass-media, as well as co-operation of courts with press-centres and mass-media. In the course of the event Ms Lorena Bachmaier Winter, Professor of Law at the Complutense University (Madrid, Spain) and the international expert of the Council of Europe, informed the participants about the standards of the Council of Europe on the publicity of judicial proceedings.

The participants of the round table exchanged thoughts on principles of state communications, analysed the best cases of communication between the authorities and mass-media and, inter alia, special features of communication through social networks.

The event was organised in the framework of the Forum on development of co-operation between the Council of Europe and Ukraine in Odessa oblast which took place on 15 June 2017 in Odessa. The Forum was attended by representatives of the local authorities and self-governance bodies and by representatives of all the projects of the Council of Europe in Ukraine. The outreach event of the Council of Europe Office in Ukraine was aimed at discussing main priorities and areas of work of the Council of Europe Office in Ukraine and in Odessa oblast in particular.

WEB LINKS TO THE EVENT

Judicial Power of Ukraine

All-Ukrainian non-governmental organization “Ukrainian Bar Association”

Odessa, Ukraine 15 June 2017