Advancing the Rule of Law in Ukraine: Strengthening the Judicial System and Freedom of Expression

Project Overview

Over the last 30 years Ukraine has been transitioning towards a democratic system, and, more recently, implementing reforms in line with its strategy of EU accession. However, the country is facing complex governance challenges, compounded by long standing institutional issues and the armed conflict with Russia. Balancing security, economic stability, and democratic processes has placed immense strain on Ukraine’s rule of law. The judiciary is under significant pressure: an increased caseload, the relocation of courts due to occupation and insecurity, and capacity constraints are some of the most prominent concerns. These challenges have impacted both the accessibility and efficiency of the justice system, which is increasingly suffering from a loss of public trust. Likewise, another pillar of democratic society: free media, is challenged by legal and practical obstacles, including martial law, restrictions on pluralism, and inadequate legal protections against intimidation and abuse.  

To uphold democratic principles and strengthen societal trust in the legal system, supporting the rule of law is at the centre of this project. 

Outcomes

Outcome 1 (CILC, Asser): Enhanced fairness, accessibility, and transparency of the Ukrainian judiciary through improved judicial training, communication practices, and public outreach. 

This outcome strengthens the capacity of the judiciary and civil society to uphold the right to a fair trial and promote judicial accountability and transparency, through the development and delivery of an advanced judicial training programme on fair trial standards and targeted technical advice to civil society organisations and journalists on effective trial monitoring. It further addresses the judiciary’s capacity to integrate AI into their work in an ethical and transparent manner in line with international human rights law, through mapping AI’s current role in the Ukrainian judicial system, developing a practical guide on ethical AI use, and delivering dedicated court trainings. Additionally, the outcome supports the judiciary in improving its communication practices through a transparency assessment across specified regions, a training programme on public outreach and media relations, support for institutionalising internal and external communication structures including the appointment of press judges, and the development of a crisis communication training module for incorporation into the national judicial training curriculum. 

Outcome 2 (Asser): Legal actors are better able to protect media freedom and freedom of expression. 

This outcome strengthens legal actors’ understanding of freedom of expression and media freedom through the development and dissemination of best practices on protecting journalists, ensuring that these standards are effectively integrated into legal practice.