A series of thematic seminars dedicated to discussing European and international standards and best practices of EU Member States in the context of Ukraine’s alignment with the requirements of Chapters 23 and 24 of the Rule of Law Roadmap was launched on 21–23 January 2026. The event is being held at the initiative of the Ministry of Justice of Ukraine and the EU Delegation to Ukraine, with the support of the Council of Europe, the European Union project Pravo-Justice, and other international partners. It aims to raise awareness among civil servants regarding Ukraine’s European integration process.
Strengthening the role of the Ombudsman institution and adopting a new law regulating the Ombudsman’s activities remain important steps in the context of Ukraine’s integration to the European Union. This issue became a key topic of the session dedicated to the institutional capacity of the Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights and the role of the National Preventive Mechanism (NPM). Council of Europe international expert George Tugushi drew participants’ attention to international standards governing the activities of the Ombudsperson’s institution and the principles of its work, emphasising the importance of compliance with these standards, including the establishment of a transparent procedure for the selection and appointment of candidates for the position of Ombudsman.
Furthermore, George Tugushi emphasised the crucial role of the NPM in preventing torture and ill-treatment in places of deprivation of liberty and positively assessed the activities of Ukraine’s NPM. Particular attention was drawn to the strong structure of the NPM, regular visits to places of deprivation of liberty, prompt preparation of reports, and effective engagement of civil society, which positively contribute to transparency, accountability, and detention conditions. At the same time, among the issues that still require attention are insufficient funding, limited human resources, and the lack of effective mechanisms for implementing NPM recommendations.
Reference information: the Council of Europe project "Support to the Implementation of the European Human Rights Standards in Ukraine: Phase II" is aimed at strengthening the system of human rights protection in Ukraine by bringing the national legislation and practice in line with international standards and enhancing the operational capacity of the Ombudsperson to prevent torture and ill-treatment in places of deprivation of liberty and guarantee protection of the right to privacy and personal data.
