Project aims at ensuring effective functioning of the criminal justice system in Ukraine aligned with European human rights standards, including in the context of the military aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine.

The attainment of the Project objective shall contribute to strengthening democratic processes in Ukraine through the development of a criminal justice system which is:

• fair, efficient and respectful of human rights and fundamental freedoms
• effective in the fight against criminality
• free of corruption and accountable at both institutional and individual levels
• trusted by the society

• Criminal justice stakeholders’ practices are harmonised to develop and apply criminal justice policy and legal framework in effective and coordinated manner in line with the Council of Europe standards and best practices;
• Institutional independence of the public prosecution service (PPS) and procedural autonomy of prosecutors are strengthened in line with the Council of Europe standards and best practices through continued support to reforms in the PPS, reinforcing prosecutorial self-government mechanism and advancing disciplinary procedures;
• Professional and operational capacity of prosecutors, legal aid lawyers and judges is enhanced to contribute to increased protection of procedural guarantees in criminal proceedings and increased effectiveness of criminal investigations/prosecutions, including investigation/prosecution of gross human rights violations in the context of the military aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine.

• Ukrainian Parliament (the Law Enforcement Committee)
• Ministry of Justice of Ukraine
• The Supreme Court
• The Office of the Prosecutor General of Ukraine
• The Council of Public Prosecutors
• The Body in Charge of the Disciplinary Proceedings of the public prosecution service of Ukraine
• The Prosecutors’ Training Centre of Ukraine
• The National School of Judges of Ukraine
• The Coordination Centre for Legal Aid Provision

• Duration: 24 months (1 January 2023 – 31 December 2024)
• Budget: 1,290,000 €
• Funding: Voluntary contributions

The Project follows the Council of Europe’s working methods, based on standard setting, monitoring and cooperation.

The Project’s comprehensive approach includes a wide range of activities, including needs-assessments, research and base-line studies; policy and legislative advice (legal opinions, expert consultations); development of internal guiding and methodological documents and self-assessment instruments for the operational implementation of the new legal framework; professional capacity development activities, including development of curricula, training modules (including e-courses), through workshops, conferences, experience-exchange meetings, study visits; awareness raising activities; inter-agency interactions (working group meetings; public discussions/platforms; cascade peer-to-peer exchanges at regional and/or local levels); pilot/s.

2023

2024