On September 13-14, 2024, with the support of the Council of Europe project "Fostering Human Rights in the Criminal Justice System in Ukraine" lawyer-trainers of the Free Legal Aid System participated in a two-day training titled "The Criminal Procedure Code of Ukraine: Application through the Lens of European Standards".
The aim of the training was to practice key training activities and deepen knowledge in applying the European Convention on Human Rights and the case law of the European Court of Human Rights.
This training, organised by the Council of Europe Office in Ukraine, builds on previous initiatives of a similar nature. However, this year's program took into account new challenges related to the war and included discussions on the involvement of lawyers, particularly those from the Free Legal Aid System, in cases of war crimes. This was accompanied by a discussion between participants and experts on the challenges of adhering to the standards of the European Convention on Human Rights during wartime.
"I want to highlight the remarkable work of lawyers in the Free Legal Aid system. Even in peaceful times, this is a challenging role, helping the most vulnerable and dealing with complex criminal cases. Since 2022, these challenges have grown. You now represent the interests of prisoners of war in court, safeguard their rights, and provide support to victims and witnesses of war crimes. This work demands resilience and professionalism. At its core, the criminal process must meet the highest European standards, especially those set by the European Convention on Human Rights and the case law of the European Court of Human Rights" — noted Erlend Falch, Deputy Head of the Council of Europe Office in Ukraine, during his speech.
Olexander Baranov, Director of the Coordination Center for Legal Aid, also participated in the event. He emphasised the importance of continuing cooperation with the Council of Europe and enhancing the qualifications of both the trainers and the lawyers within the Free Legal Aid System in accordance with the Convention standards.
The event was supported as part of the project "Strengthening Human Rights in Ukraine's Criminal Justice System," which is part of the Council of Europe’s Action Plan for Ukraine "Resilience, Recovery, and Reconstruction" for 2023-2026.
