CoE Project

Continued Support to the Criminal Justice Reform in Ukraine

On 7 – 8 November 2018, with the support of Council of Europe Project “Continued support to the criminal justice reform in Ukraine”, funded by the Government of Denmark, the Qualification and Disciplinary Commission of Prosecutors (QDCP) conducted for the first time an anonymous testing of the general skills of candidates for the positions of prosecutors at local prosecutor's offices. More than 400 candidates took part in the testing held at the premises of National Academy of Prosecutors of Ukraine (NAPU).

Anonymous testing is aimed at evaluation of general (analytical) skills of candidates. It is automated, so every candidate within the set time passes a series of relevant tests on a separate computer. 

Serhii Serhiychuk, Member of the QDCP, told that the anonymous testing is a part of the qualification exam within the selection of candidates for the position of public prosecutor at a local prosecutor's office. It is the last stage of the exam. A ranking of the candidates who successfully passed the qualification exam will be compiled, in accordance with their results. Then candidates should pass a special inspection, after which they will undergo an initial training in NAPU. Upon the successful completion of initial training, the candidates can participate in the competition for the positions of public prosecutor at a local prosecutor's office as those become vacant. Such a competition is announced and conducted by the QDCP based on the rating of candidates.

According to Mr. Serhiychuk, this is the second selection of candidates for the position of prosecutor at a local prosecutor's office, which is held by the QDCP starting from the beginning of its work in summer 2017. "Anonymous testing to evaluate the analytical skills of candidates is a new to the QDCP stage of qualification exam within the selection. It became possible thanks to the support of our partners - Council of Europe Project “Continued support to the criminal justice reform in Ukraine", he said. In his opinion, such a testing, will help to better evaluate analytical skills of candidates and contribute to a quality of prosecutors recruitment process in general. In total, he said, there is a current need to recruit 350 prosecutors at a local level throughout Ukraine. That is why last summer the QDCP announced the selection.

"In my opinion, the entire process of selection (ed. – of the candidates for the position of prosecutor at a local prosecutor's office) is organized at a high level. I am satisfied with the level of testing. As for me, the tests were not that easy. Still, the testing really allows the participants to demonstrate their intellectual skills", shared her opinion one of the candidates.

As Ketevan Tskhomelidze, “Continued support to the criminal justice reform in Ukraine” Project Manager, said, the Project supported the procurement of relevant analytical tests, as well as the performance of testing process by the experienced provider. This is a part of the continuous support by the Council of Europe of reforming the system of recruitment and promotion of prosecutors, an important component of which is strengthening of the QDCP capacity to recruit personnel for the prosecutor’s offices.

"The development of the Ukrainian public prosecution service as an effective modern institution is impossible without open access to the profession through the transparent selection on the competency-based approach. Automated anonymous testing of analytical skills is one of the latest tools. It enables objective evaluation of one of the blocks of competencies of candidates for the positions of prosecutors, along with an assessment of professional knowledge. It should be said, that transfer of functions of prosecutors’ selection to the newly established, independent QDCP, was a significant step in reforming the prosecutorial career system. Our project cooperates with the QDCP, among other, with a view to improve methods and procedures for selection and promotion", said Ketevan Tskhomelidze.

Reference

Qualification and Disciplinary Commission of Public Prosecutors (QDCP) is a collegial body that, according to the powers provided for by the Law of Ukraine “On the Public Prosecutor’s Office”, determines the level of professional training of those individuals who have expressed their intention to hold the position of a prosecutor and addresses matters of disciplinary liability, reassignment and dismissal of prosecutors. More information about the QDCP is available in the publication prepared within the framework of the Council of Europe Project "Continued Support to the criminal justice reform in Ukraine".

On April 15, 2017, the provisions of the Law of Ukraine “On the Public Prosecutor’s Office”, which concern the operation of prosecutorial self-governance bodies and of QDCP, became effective. Prior to these provisions becoming effective, the matters associated with appointment, reassignment, disciplinary liability and dismissal of prosecutors were addressed solely by the Prosecutor General or by the head of regional prosecutor’s office. Currently, the selection of candidates for vacant or temporarily vacant positions of prosecutors at local prosecutor’s offices is carried out by the QDCP on a competitive basis.