The current state of formation of the new HQCJU’s composition was discussed at meeting of international technical assistance projects in the field of Justice
On December 4, 2019, a regular meeting of representatives of leading international technical assistance projects working in the field of strengthening the rule of law organized by the USAID New Justice Program took place.
The Chairman of the High Council of Justice Andrii Ovsiienko, as well as members of the Council Oleh Prudyvus and Svitlana Shelest informed the participants of the event about the main directions and priorities in work of the High Council of Justice in the context of changes to the Laws of Ukraine “On the Judiciary and the Status of Judges” and “On the High Council of Justice”.
During the meeting, the representatives of the High Council of Justice assured that the body is taking all necessary measures to implement legislative innovations within the time limits set out by law. In particular, the Council elaborated a draft Regulation on the competition for the position of a member of the High Qualification Commission of Judges of Ukraine, which was forwarded to the Council of Judges of Ukraine and the National School of Judges of Ukraine for the purpose of reading and submitting proposals.
The representatives of the High Council of Justice also stated that the competition for the positions of members of the High Qualification Commission of Judges of Ukraine is a priority task for today, especially in the context of the urgent need to fill vacancies in the courts. Therefore, the said Regulation would be adopted in the nearest future.
Candidates for the Integrity and Ethics Commission nominated by international and foreign organizations with which Ukraine cooperates in the area of corruption prevention and counteraction in accordance with international treaties of Ukraine were taken into account and are currently under HCJ members’ consideration that is also a matter of priority.
Simultaneously, representatives of the High Council of Justice informed that the procedure of forming the Integrity and Ethics Commission, as well as other tasks within the amendments to legislation on the activity of judicial governance bodies requires a comprehensive approach and consideration of all opinions, including international organizations and institutions, in particular, the opinion of the Venice Commission on these issues.
The representatives of international technical assistance projects, international organizations working in the field of justice in Ukraine and public authorities joined the discussion. Except for the HCJ, the event was also attended by representatives of the Supreme Court, the High Qualification Commission of Judges of Ukraine, the Council of Judges of Ukraine, the State Judicial Administration of Ukraine, and the National School of Judges of Ukraine.
The High Qualification Commission of Judges of Ukraine was represented by the Head of Legal Department of the Secretariat of the High Qualification Commission of Judges of Ukraine Natalia Kidina and Acting Head of International Cooperation Division of the Commission’s Secretariat Iuliia Tkachenko.
Reference:
The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) New Justice Program has been operating in Ukraine since October 2016.
The purpose of the program is to provide support to the judiciary, the Government, the Parliament, civil society and the people of Ukraine in implementing judicial reform, taking into account the constitutional changes of 2016 and the Strategy for the reform of the judicial system, justice and related legal institutes for 2015–2020.
The New Justice program builds on the achievements of previous USAID Programs in Ukraine: Rule of Law and Fair Justice projects and uses their achievements to coordinate close cooperation with Ukrainian partners, USAID projects, the US Government and other projects of international donor organizations in Ukraine.
