ACCESS TO JUSTICE

It is precisely in order to continue the path of reforms and bring Ukraine closer to European standards that the Chernihiv Public Committee for the Protection of Human Rights and the Judicial Association of Ukraine, together with the League for the Protection of Human Rights (Czech Republic) and the Union of Judges of the Czech Republic, continue to cooperate to transfer to Ukraine the best Czech practices in judicial reform. The next stage of cooperation was the visit to Ukraine of representatives of the third sector and the judicial branch of the Czech Republic, which was made possible thanks to the support of the East-East program of the International Renaissance Foundation.

The organizers of the exchange of experience did everything possible to make the visit to Ukraine as fruitful and eventful as possible. Thus, the delegation from the Czech Republic was able to get acquainted with the experience of courts of various instances and specializations: from commercial courts to the Supreme Court of Ukraine. The meeting of the Czech delegation with the leadership of the Council of Judges of Ukraine was very fruitful and interesting, during which there was a lively discussion of the differences and common principles of the activities of the judicial branches of government of Ukraine and the Czech Republic. Certain recommendations were developed that will serve as a good basis for continuing reforms and exchanging experience between judges of different countries.

The delegation from the Czech Republic also took part in a round table dedicated to the participation of citizens in the administration of justice in Ukraine, where judges presented the experience of the Czech Republic in this area, as well as put forward certain recommendations for the reform of the judiciary of Ukraine.

A very good addition to the visit was the participation of the Czech delegation in the human rights school for representatives of Belarusian NGOs, which was held in the city of Chernihiv. During the meeting with the school participants, thanks to the participation of representatives of the judiciary, a fruitful exchange of views took place on increasing access to justice in all three countries and building cooperation between Belarusian, Ukrainian and Czech representatives of the third sector and the judiciary.

The next stage of cooperation between the Chernihiv Public Committee for the Protection of Human Rights, the Judicial Association of Ukraine, the League for the Protection of Human Rights and the Union of Judges of the Czech Republic will be a visit by representatives of the judicial branch of Ukraine and representatives of the project participating organizations to the Czech Republic.