Weekly Digest. Top News of EU Project Pravo-Justice (04 – 10 March 2024)

Meet the fourth issue of Weekly Digest – Top News of EU Project Pravo-Justice from 04 to 10 March 2024.

• On 4-5 March, the Ministry of Justice of Ukraine presented the Legislative Monitoring Report-2023, preparednby the MoJ Directorate of Justice and Criminal Justice with expert and technical support of EU Project Pravo-Justice.

Oksana Tsymbrivska, Team Leader of EU Project Pravo-Justice, noted that the report covering this year is unique, because it had been fully automated thanks to the “Online Monitoring” platform.

“For the first time, we added an element of digitalization to this process. We tried to make it more accessible, faster, and easier both for users – representatives of the legal community, who could report a problem, and employees of the Ministry of Justice, who would be in a better position to process the collected information and, thus, to come up with certain proposals to solve the problems,” she said.

• On March 4, the first meeting of the International Council of Experts on Investigating Crimes against the Environment during Armed Conflict took place at the Office of the Prosecutor General with the support of EU Project Pravo-Justice.

During the event, the participants discussed irreparable damage caused to the environment and how to determine its scope. Moreover, the parties explored mechanisms to ensure more effective investigation of environmental crimes and outlined plans for continued cooperation.

• On March 5, in the framework of the international conference “Restoring the Rights of Victims of Conflict-Related Sexual Violence: an Element of Peace and Global Security”, an event, dedicated to the support system and security measures for CRSV witnesses and victims, was held. Experts of EU Project Pravo-Justice also took part in the event.

Anna Adamska-Gallant, Key International Expert on Judiciary of EU Project Pravo-Justice, drew the attention of the audience to the fact that Ukraine has the opportunity to improve its legal framework regarding the CRSV, based on international best practices.

“Emphasis on the credibility and sufficiency of the victim’s testimony, banning the presumption of consent, limiting the use of evidence that are based on previous behavior, as well as overcoming gender stereotypes may ensure reliable protection. By supporting these progressive steps, Ukraine can strengthen its legal response to sexual violence, ensure justice and protection of victims,” stressed Anna Adamska-Gallant.

• On March 6, Director General Jeremie Pellet and representatives of the Expertise France agency, Team Leader of EU Project Pravo-Justice Oksana Tsymbrivska, and political adviser of the Embassy of the French Republic Jean-Baptiste Begat held a working meeting with the leadership of the Ministry of Justice of Ukraine.

The members of the French delegation and the Project confirmed their continuous support for the Ministry’s initiatives and assured that they would be implemented in accordance with the previously approved work plan and based on best practices of implementing development projects in other European countries.