EU Project Pravo-Justice took part in arranging and holding the ХІ Annual Judicial Forum

XI Annual Judicial Forum started in Kyiv. This year, its topic reads "Transformation of justice in wartime". Oksana Tsymbrivska, EU Project Pravo-Justice Country Manager took part in opening the forum.

Oksana Tsymbrivska noted that the key tasks as regards judicial reform are to adopt and implement legislation on selecting Constitutional Court justices in Ukraine, to complete the integrity check of the High Council of Justice candidates and to select the High Qualification Commission of Judges of Ukraine candidates. She covered the benefits of introducing E-Court, which is also an integral part of judicial reform.

"Today, E-Court and remote justice are not only about following the modern trends of the European judiciary. It is a must-have in view of the COVID-2019 aftermath and especially given the ongoing war. The war only made this issue more relevant and prioritized this workstream. After all, today it is not just about user-friendly services via digital means, it is also about ensuring the right to access to justice," she said.

Oksana Tsymbrivska emphasized that EU Project Pravo-Justice is ready to support all necessary transformations in the judiciary towards European integration and post-war reconstruction of Ukraine. Ruslan Stefanchuk, Chair of the Verkhovna Rada and Andrii Kostin, Prosecutor General of Ukraine also addressed the Forum participants online.

Stefanchuk said: as EU candidate, Ukraine should transform the judiciary in accordance with European standards, and this must be done quickly. According to him, the Verkhovna Rada will make every effort to carry out national reforms.

"A number of key draft laws are currently pending in the Verkhovna Rada. These are bills related to the stages of judicial reform and judiciary digitalization. There are draft laws aimed at introducing a compensation system for damages and settling the procedure for their consideration," said the Chair of the Verkhovna Rada. In turn, Andrii Kostin noted that justice in Ukraine is operational despite the war.

"While the world is confronting barbarism, we, lawyers, judges, prosecutors, advocates, have our own legal front. We are united in our desire to restore justice. Exchange of experience and ideas, constant dialogue and openness to new things provide a comprehensive approach in overcoming challenges that used to be new for us. The Prosecutor General's Office continues actively cooperating with civil society that is always in the epicentre of what is going on," Andrii Kostin said.

"The war continues, and justice is administered. We prevent "Justice delayed is justice denied" situation. The Nuremberg Tribunal described aggressive war as the supreme international crime. The national justice system will make sure no war criminals go unpunished. The military and political leadership of the terrorist state responsible for the crime of aggression should receive a fair sentence," emphasized Andrii Kostin.