On 7 July 2018, the HELP course on Admissibility criteria in applications submitted to the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) was launched for a group of selected 26 Ukrainian lawyers. The launching was organized under the Project ‘Enhancing the implementation of European Human Rights Standards in Ukraine’ and in cooperation with the Ukrainian National Bar Association (UNBA). This is the first pilot course launched in cooperation with the UNBA.

The participants to the event were welcomed by Valentin Gvozdiy, Vice-president of the UNBA and member of the UNBA Expert Council, Sava Kuzmenko, Head of the Higher School of Advocacy and Victoria Galperina, Project Officer, Council of Europe.

Following the general presentation on the HELP Programme by Ana Medarska-Lazova, HELP Project Officer, Council of Europe, participants could hear on how Ukrainian lawyers can benefit from the HELP Programme from Olena Sibilyova, HELP Info Point for Ukraine and member of the UNBA.

During the meeting, the participants benefitted from presentations on the procedure of lodging applications to the ECtHR, the technical compliance of the applications with the Rules of the ECtHR, as well as substantial presentations on the admissibility criteria for applications lodged before the ECtHR, with a specific focus on the relevant Ukrainian case-The presentations were provided by lawyers at the ECtHR and HELP tutors, who will also moderate the course implementation over the next three months.

The HELP course on Admissibility criteria in applications lodged to the ECtHR is one of the most demanded HELP courses for lawyers throughout CoE member States. It is composed of 5 modules which cover the overview of the procedure before the ECtHR and the separate admissibility criteria (incompatibilities, anonymity, exhaustion of domestic remedies, six-month rule, substantially the same application, insignificant disadvantage and manifestly ill-founded). It is available in 13 languages in the HELP online platform.

© Council of Europe