Representatives from the Ministry of Veterans Affairs and the UNBA discussed veterans' access to justice

On April 3, a working meeting was held at the Ministry of Veterans Affairs of Ukraine with representatives of the Ukrainian National Bar Association, dedicated to improving the effectiveness of legal protection for war veterans and their families.

The event was attended by Deputy Minister of Veterans Affairs Farhad Farkhadov, the President of the UNBA, BCU Lidiya Izovitova, Chairman of the UNBA Committee on the protection of victims of armed aggression against Ukraine, compensation mechanisms and European integration legal support for recovery Andriy Yermak, UNBA Committee Coordinator Svitlana Hrusko and the Head of the UNBA Secretariat Vadym Krasnyk.

The parties discussed the systemic challenges veterans face in defending their rights and agreed on the need to transition from ad hoc solutions to a comprehensive model of legal protection.

A key priority identified was the development of a specialization for advocates in veterans’ cases — through training programs, the exchange of best practices, and the development of unified approaches to legal aid that take into account the specificities of their status.

Special attention was given to the Ministry’s work within the framework of the Expert Group on access to justice for war veterans and their families. «Our task is to build a system in which a veteran is not forced to defend their rights in court against the state. The state must be the guarantor of protection, not a party to the dispute», - noted F. Farkhadov.

A separate topic was the preparation for the specialized seminar «Justice and trust: the judiciary and veterans», which will take place on April 29 in Kyiv. The UNBA confirmed its readiness to participate in shaping the agenda and providing expert input.

The event will serve as a platform for open dialogue between judges, advocates, and state institutions with the aim of developing practical solutions in the field of protecting veterans’ rights. The event program will be released shortly, and registration for participants will open.

Following the meeting, the parties confirmed their readiness for systematic cooperation and the joint implementation of initiatives aimed at increasing veterans’ trust in the justice system.