Fostering Human Rights in the Criminal Justice System in Ukraine — Phase II
The Project is part of the continuous endeavour by the Council of Europe to support Ukraine to fulfill its obligations as a member state of the Organisation. It is designed to aid the Ukrainian authorities in ensuring the effective functioning of the criminal justice system in Ukraine in line with European human rights standards. The suggested Project action builds on the achievements of the previous CoE Action Plans for Ukraine, notably results of the projects aimed at supporting the criminal justice reforms in Ukraine implemented between 2013 and 2025.
The Project objective
Project aims at ensuring effective functioning of the criminal justice system in Ukraine aligned with European human rights standards, including in the context of the military aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine.
The attainment of the Project objective shall contribute to strengthening democratic processes in Ukraine through the development of a criminal justice system which is:
- fair, efficient and respectful of human rights and fundamental freedoms
- effective in the fight against criminality
- trusted by the society
Expected results
The Project action contains three main components and seeks to address the following:
- Further harmonisation of the legislation of national stakeholders in applying criminal justice policy and legal frameworks effectively, in line with Council of Europe standards and best practices, with due regard to the war context.
- Enhancement of the capacity of judges, prosecutors, and defence lawyers to improve the protection of procedural guarantees in criminal proceedings and to increase the effectiveness of criminal investigations, prosecutions, and trials, including those related to war crimes and war-related cases, to ensure justice and accountability for Ukraine.
- Prosecutorial independence is strengthened through the implementation of relevant Council of Europe standards, while enhanced disciplinary and career development procedures improve the effectiveness, transparency, and professionalism of public prosecutors in line with the EU accession process.
The Project beneficiaries
- Ukrainian Parliament (the Law Enforcement Committee)
- Ministry of Justice of Ukraine
- The Supreme Court
- The Office of the Prosecutor General
- The Council of Prosecutors
- The Qualification and Disciplinary Commission of Prosecutors
- The Prosecutors’ Training Centre of Ukraine
- The National School of Judges of Ukraine
- The Coordination Centre for Legal Aid Provision
Project duration and budget
- Duration: 21 months (1 April 2025 – 31 December 2026)
- Budget: 1,093,000 €
- Funding: Voluntary contributions
Project approach and activities
The Project follows the Council of Europe’s working methods, based on standard setting, monitoring and cooperation.
The Project’s comprehensive approach includes a wide range of activities, including needs-assessments, research and base-line studies; policy and legislative advice (legal opinions, expert consultations); development of internal guiding and methodological documents and self-assessment instruments for the operational implementation of the new legal framework; professional capacity development activities, including development of curricula, training modules (including e-courses), through workshops, conferences, experience-exchange meetings, study visits; awareness raising activities; inter-agency interactions (working group meetings; public discussions/platforms; cascade peer-to-peer exchanges at regional and/or local levels); pilot/s.
Expert opinions / reviews / publications
2026
2025
- A Comparative Study on the Key Aspects of Self-Governance and Careers in the Prosecution Service in Selected Member States of the Council of Europe
- Information Note on the involvement and recruitment of minors in committing crimes against the national security of Ukraine
- Problematic Issues of Legislative Regulation of Calculation of Pre-trial Investigation Terms in accordance with the Criminal Procedure Code of Ukraine
- NOTE based on the results of the round table held on May 28 Regarding legislative regulation of pre-trial investigation terms and closure of criminal proceedings
2024
- Expert Analysis "Disciplinary practice of the Qualification and Disciplinary Commission of Prosecutors for 2023"
- Overview of International Standards on Victims' Involvement During Pre-Trial Investigations and Court Proceedings
- Criminal proceedings in absentia: comparative study
- Overview of European standards regarding criminal proceedings in absentia
- CCPE Opinion 2024 (Ukrainian translation)
2023
- Information Note on the Case Law of the European Court of Human Rights Regarding Armed Conflicts (unofficial translation into Ukrainian)
Application of the European Court of Human Rights case law: meeting with Mykola Gnatovskyy, judge of the European Court
On 27 October 2026, a meeting was held with Mr Mykola Gnatovskyy, judge of the European Court of Human Rights (the Court, European Court) in respect of Ukraine, focusing on the admissibility of applications to the Court, the application of the European Convention on Human Rights, and current...
Rights must work in practice: Council of Europe presents Second Expert Report on remedies and redress for people affected by the war in Ukraine
How can people affected by the war access assistance, protect their rights and obtain reparation for the harm they have suffered? How can State support programmes, judicial and non-judicial remedies, and criminal justice be brought together so that they complement one another? These questions...
Council of Europe support to judges and prosecutors in addressing the admissibility of electronic evidence in Ukraine
Ukrainian authorities have taken important steps in addressing electronic evidence in criminal proceedings, particularly in the investigation and prosecution of war crimes. Ensuring that such evidence is obtained lawfully, properly preserved and effectively presented in court is essential for...
Meeting with Mykola Gnatovskyy, Judge of the European Court of Human Rights from Ukraine
Meeting with Mykola Gnatovskyy, Judge of the European Court of Human Rights from Ukraine. When: October 27, 2026 Time: 4:00–6:00 p.m. (registration begins at 3:30 p.m.) Where: Kyiv (the address will be provided to registered participants) Format: in-person and online Language: Ukrainian...
Application of preventive measures and reducing overcrowding in pre-trial detention facilities in wartime: human rights standards and national practice
The Council of Europe and the Kharkiv Human Rights Protection Group, a prominent Ukrainian non-governmental organisation with a long-standing record of defending human rights and promoting fundamental freedoms in Ukraine, joined forces to discuss security in pre-trial detention facilities during...
Council of Europe and international partners discuss cooperation priorities with Ukraine’s Acting Prosecutor General
On 9 October 2026, the first donor coordination meeting with Ukraine’s newly appointed Acting Prosecutor General brought together representatives of the Office of the Prosecutor General, the Council of Europe Office in Ukraine, the Delegation of the European Union to Ukraine, the EU project...
Council of Europe continues to support the institutional strengthening of the Council of Prosecutors of Ukraine
The Council of Europe continues to implement a series of activities aimed at strengthening the institutions of prosecutorial self-governance in Ukraine, in particular the Council of Prosecutors of Ukraine. In August 2026, the Council of Prosecutors of Ukraine began a new five-year term with a...
Regional human rights protection mechanisms: training courses for Ukrainian attorneys and lawyers
Ukrainian attorneys and lawyers are increasingly using European human rights protection mechanisms to defend the rights of those affected by the war. At the same time, successfully bringing a case before the European Court of Human Rights requires a thorough understanding of the admissibility...
The Council of Europe has supported the holding of a strategic session at the Prosecutors’ Training Centre of Ukraine to identify practical priorities for its development
The Council of Europe continues to support the Prosecutors’ Training Centre of Ukraine (PTCU, the Centre) in developing its institutional capacity and improving its strategic planning. Accordingly, on 24–25 September 2026, a regular strategic session was held in Kyiv, dedicated to the Centre’s...
The Council of Europe supported the organisation of a training-of-trainers course for the free legal aid system on the application of the standards of the European Convention on Human Rights in criminal proceedings
The Council of Europe, in collaboration with the Co-ordination Centre for Legal Aid, organised a training-of-trainers course for attorneys and lawyers within the free secondary legal aid system on 18–19 September 2026 in Lviv. The training focused on the effective interpretation and application...
Relation to the judgments
of the European Court of Human Rights
- Lutsenko, Merit, Ignatov, Khaylo, Fedorchenko and Lozenko, Shmorgunov and others, Kaverzin v. Ukraine groups of cases
Co-operation Unit
Human Rights and Justice Co-operation Department
In Strasbourg:
Roland Gjoni
Project Co-ordinator
In Kyiv:
Alisa Pietukhova
Project Manager
Hanna Khitsevych
Senior Project Officer
Yaroslav Hnatiuk
Project Assistant
Viktoriia Shemet
Project Assistant