The first online meeting with the representatives of international assistance projects working in the field of strengthening the Rule of Law in 2023 was held with the support of the USAID Justice for All Program. The event was attended by representatives of the Ukrainian legal community, international organizations, and international technical assistance projects, as well as the Secretariat of the High Qualifications Commission of Judges of Ukraine.
The meeting was devoted to discussing a number of problematic issues that need to be addressed urgently. Oleksandr Baranov, Acting Director of the Coordination Center for Legal Aid Provision, spoke about the challenges facing the free legal aid system due to a significant increase in the number of people requesting legal aid during the war. In his presentation, he outlined the key achievements of 2022: new categories of subjects of the right to free legal aid were defined, the work of some regional free legal aid centers was reorganized, and regulations were brought in line with the Law of Ukraine “On Mediation” and a register of mediators engaged by these centers was introduced.
Mr. Baranov informed that with the support of USAID, an assessment of the needs of defense attorneys in war crimes cases for training was conducted. He also outlined the Center’s main future goals. They discussed the development of legal education for the public, support for the work and development of the free legal aid contact center, professional development of its employees, dispute resolution, improvement of software and hardware, etc.
At the end of the event, the parties exchanged news and plans for the future.
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The USAID Justice for All Program has been launched in Ukraine on October 1, 2021, and is implemented to promote the idea of justice for all by strengthening the justice system, justice services and community involvement to ensure an adequate response to the legal problems and needs of Ukrainian people in Judiciary.
The USAID Justice for All Program will be built on the achievements of the USAID New Justice Program and will use its achievements to coordinate close cooperation with domestic partners, USAID and US government projects, and other projects of international donor organizations in Ukraine.