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Accountability I: Fair, Transparent, and Accountable Criminal Justice System in Ukraine
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Project Overview
The people of Ukraine have the right to pursue justice at various levels, addressing violations of international humanitarian and criminal law, as well as local crimes during the war. However, this requires societal trust in the judiciary which is currently undermined by issues such as corruption, media negativity, and a lack of faith in the fairness of trials. The ongoing war with Russia has interrupted the judicial reform process, highlighting the urgent need for reforms, particularly in criminal justice.
Challenges faced by the justice system include low public trust, overcrowded prisons which foster criminal activities, inadequate reintegration of war veterans, and insufficient reconciliation within local communities.
In response to these challenges, this comprehensive project aimed to develop a trusted and accountable judicial system in Ukraine.
Objectives
- Ensure transparency and address corruption within the Ukrainian justice system;
- Support judicial reforms in the area of integrity;
- Introduce alternative sanctions and develop the probation system to reduce prison overcrowding and prevent the formation of criminal groups;
- Support the judicial system in holding war criminals accountable, dealing with local crimes;
- Reintegrate war veterans;
The success of the project hinged on establishing a judiciary that is trusted, transparent, and aligned with international standards.
Outcomes
Outcome 1: Integrity and accountability focused judicial reform advanced. National awareness on integrity and anti-corruption was raised through a National Conference on Integrity and Anti-Corruption in the judiciary. Integrity policy of partner courts was developed by introducing court leadership to the integrity policy, forming working groups across partner courts to develop it, having these groups present the outcome to court leadership and other stakeholders, and delivering training on integrity for judges and court staff.
Outcome 2: Probation and alternative sanctions in Ukraine piloted. The community service concept was enhanced through peer-to-peer discussion with stakeholders within and outside the justice chain and by providing an administrative framework for community service. Probation officers were trained in basic probation skills via a Basic Training Course (BTC) and a training-of-trainers for the BTC. Acceptance of probation and alternative sanctions in the justice chain was increased through production and release of a video on the probation trajectory in the criminal justice chain, organisation of peer-to-peer discussions among judges, public prosecution, probation services and the bar, and organisation of study visits and conferences. Probation as a reintegration tool for veterans was explored through research on the topic.
Outcome 3: Policy dialogue on accountability as part of the broader justice sector reform and Ukraine’s EU accession effort facilitated. Practical support was provided on judicial reform, fair trials, access to justice, and probation for EU alignment, through establishing a peer-to-peer working group with stakeholders within and outside the justice sector on EU alignment.
