Training of Trainers on the Implementation of Services for Vulnerable Court Users during Wartime has Started

On 12 June, the training course "Training of Trainers on Implementation of Services for Vulnerable Court Users: International Standards and National Experience in Wartime" developed by EU Project Pravo-Justice experts was launched.

The course aims to train trainers who will further pass on the acquired specialised professional knowledge and skills to their colleagues to disseminate best European practices in ensuring access to justice for vulnerable court users in wartime and during post-war reconstruction.

According to Yevheniia Bondarenko, EU Project Pravo-Justice national expert and course moderator, this year, the organisers have developed a special curriculum tailored to the present-day context.

"The Project experts have significantly expanded and updated the course curriculum in light of the circumstances we have to face because of the full-scale invasion of the Russian Federation. We understand that ensuring proper access to justice for vulnerable court users is an integral part of the current context and, above all, the right to a fair trial," emphasised Yevheniia Bondarenko.

Tamara Zakrevska, Deputy Head of the Department for Training of Trainers of the National School of Judges, also highlighted how important it is to tailor the course to the context of martial law. According to her, such educational initiatives and high-quality training of trainers who will be able to pass on the acquired specialised professional knowledge and skills to their colleagues bring Ukraine closer to victory and the restoration of justice.

Svitlana Maistruk, Court Modernization Key Expert of EU Project Pravo-Justice, noted that this year’s course curriculum includes the experience of the previous four rounds of training implemented under the Model Courts Initiative and focuses on both international expertise and Ukrainian practices.

"The judiciary must take into account the needs that arise while providing services to different groups of vulnerable court users and address them accordingly. That is why, despite the war, EU Project Pravo-Justice continues to build a community of court trainers who will be able to disseminate best practices in the future so that all Ukrainian courts can provide quality services," emphasised Svitlana Maistruk.

Meanwhile, Oleksandr Baranov, Director of the Coordination Centre for Legal Aid Provision, added that Ukrainian courts have a lot to work on.

"For more than ten years now, we have seen that people who seek protection and restoration of their rights face various problems. They are related to the very high level of legal nihilism in Ukraine, the lack of awareness of their rights, and the quality of the services currently provided, even though they are gradually transforming into more human-centred ones," emphasised Oleksandr Baranov.

Anna Adamska-Gallant, international expert of EU Project Pravo-Justice and course trainer, also spoke at the launch of the course. She spoke about her experience as a judge in Kosovo and encouraged the course graduates to share their experience with international colleagues.

"Undoubtedly, working with victims and witnesses of international war crimes is very important and difficult. Unfortunately, everyone who works in Ukraine today faces these challenges on a daily basis. However, these people are gaining invaluable experience that must be shared to bring victory over the aggressor closer," summed up Anna Adamska-Gallant.

Since 2020, EU Project Pravo-Justice has conducted four trainings of trainers on the implementation of services for vulnerable court users and formed a community of 127 certified trainers. This year’s course consists of 6 webinars. They will be held every Wednesday from 15:00 to 17:30.