Aspen Institute Kyiv Holds the 13th “Justice, Law and Society” Seminar

From 27 to 31 May 2026, Aspen Institute Kyiv, in partnership with the OSCE Support Programme for Ukraine, held the 13th “Justice, Law and Society” seminar in Ukraine’s Zakarpattia region.

This year’s seminar focused on the challenges facing the state and society in times of war. Discussions centred on justice, trust, freedom, security, and the role of institutions during periods of profound societal crisis.

Through the shared reading and discussion of philosophical, public affairs, and applied scholarly texts, participants reflected on how the understanding of justice changes under martial law, where the balance lies between necessary restrictions and human rights, what role the judiciary should play during wartime, and which principles should guide Ukraine’s post-war recovery.

Particular attention was also given to the themes of the social contract, trust in public institutions, and society’s demand for justice.

The seminar brought together 24 participants representing the legal profession, public administration, the human rights community, the judiciary, academia, and the media. The programme was coordinated by Olena Fomina, Director of Program Areas at Aspen Institute Kyiv.

We are grateful to our partners at the OSCE Support Programme for Ukraine for supporting the seminar, and to all participants for their thoughtful, open, and deeply engaging dialogue.