“Trust to judiciary and judicial reform: a dialogue between stakeholders”

On October 25, 2019, the Aspen Institute Kyiv, together with the Council of Europe Office in Ukraine, «Support to the implementation of the judicial reform in Ukraine» held a round table “Trust to judiciary and judicial reform: a dialogue between stakeholders”. 

In the event took part representatives of Committee of Verkhovna Rada on legal policy, Supreme Court, High Council of Justice, Council of Judges of Ukraine, High qualification commission of judges of Ukraine, National School of Judges of Ukraine, Ukrainian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, non-governmental and international organizations, media and scientific environment.

In her greeting speech, Yuliya Tychkivska, Executive director of the Aspen Institute Kyiv, stressed the importance of dialogue as practical tools for cooperation between stakeholders, including representatives of different stakeholders during the implementation of judicial reform. Olena Lytvynenko, Deputy Head of the Council of Europe Office in Ukraine, stressed the necessity of compliance with standards of Council of Europe during the judicial reform implementation and actual legislative changes. 

Head of the Project Council of Europe “Support to the implementation of the judicial reform in Ukraine” Illya Chernogorenko presented survey results of the Council of Europe about trust level to judiciary system and evaluation of judicial reform in Ukraine.

Talking about increasing a trust level to the judiciary, round table’s participants paid attention to key vectors of next perfection in this sphere, in particular:

 – legislation, on which basement court rulings are accepted;

 – professional preparedness and staffing of judicial vacancies;

 – accessibility of justice and openness of judiciary;

 – highlighting of judiciary work in media;

 – quality of law education.

The round table was held in off the record mode, moderator, Taras Shevchenko, director of Centre for democracy, and the rule of law. 

We thank the Council of Europe for supporting the round table initiative and plan to continue dialogue activities next year on judicial reform in Ukraine and confidence in the judiciary.

In case of initiatives about conducting and participation in events, please contact to Program Coordinator “Justice, law and society” Olena Fomina (of@aspeninstitutekyiv.org).