Valentyn Gvozdiy elected as Vice-President of the Council of Europe's Committee of Experts on the Protection of Advocates' Rights

Advocacy
14:36 Thu 07.04.22 258 Reviews
Print

Valentyn Gvozdiy elected Vice-President of the Committee of Experts of the Council of Europe on the Protection of Advocates Rights.

The first meeting of the Committee of Experts of the Council of Europe on the Protection of the Rights of Advocates is taking place on April 6-8 in Strasbourg, France. Ukraine represented in this committee by the Vice-President of UNBA, BCU Valentyn Gvozdiy. Today he has been elected Vice-President of this crucial working body of the Council of Europe.

It should be noted that in 2020, the European Committee of the Council of Europe on Legal Cooperation (CDCJ) conducted a study on the feasibility of a new, mandatory, or optional, European legal instrument for the legal profession.

Based on this study, the Committee of Ministers agreed to establish a committee of experts on the protection of advocates' rights (CJ-AV) under the auspices of the European Committee on Legal Cooperation (CDCJ).

The CJ-AV is expected to develop "a draft legal instrument aimed at strengthening the protection of the legal profession and the right to practice law without prejudice or restriction" by December 2023.

It is expected that, under the auspices of the CDCJ, the CJ-AV will consult with the CDCJ at each stage of the preparation of the draft legal instrument and take into account their comments. The CJ-AV should prepare proposals for consideration by the CDCJ on the nature of the legal instrument, whether mandatory or optional, given the added value of the options available. At its plenary session, the CDCJ will consider the proposal (s) prepared by the CJ-AV and recommend to the Committee of Ministers the nature of the legal instrument in the light of the provisions of the draft instrument.

According to the CJ-AV's competence, the draft legal instrument should provide for a full set of minimum standards concerning the right of advocates to practice freely and to ensure the protection and independence of the profession. This may include setting up a mechanism entrusted with the implementation of standards by Member States or providing guidance on their application.

A key requirement in developing an appropriate legal instrument under the CJ-AV's remit is the need to formulate fundamental principles and rules that protect human rights, democracy, and the rule of law, while complementing existing standards in these areas and addressing existing gaps, if any.

Building primarily on the Council of Europe's experience in this area, the future instrument should also take due account of the relevant initiatives of other international and regional fora in order to provide a common legal framework.

Popular news

Ukrainian advocacy integrates HELP into the system of professional development

Educational events

Ukrainian advocacy integrates HELP into the system of professional development

In recent years, the Ukrainian National Bar Association has become one of the Council of Europe’s key partners in implementing the HELP programme, an educational project aimed at developing the legal profession through training in European human rights standards.

12:38 Tue 22.07.25 200
Those who equate advocates with clients will be fined – law passed

Legislation

Those who equate advocates with clients will be fined – law passed

Public identification of an advocate with a client to whom such advocate provides professional legal assistance will become an administrative offense, and forms of interference in the activities of an advocate, for which liability is provided for in Article 397 of the Criminal Code, are detailed.

19:32 Wed 16.07.25 234
Experts have exceptional potential that should be developed jointly — Lidiya Izovitova

Discussion

Experts have exceptional potential that should be developed jointly — Lidiya Izovitova

The professions of advocate and expert can and must develop by learning from each other, exchanging experience and best practices. Together, we can build a strong, independent, and effective justice system worthy of a European Ukraine.

17:03 Fri 11.07.25 127
Strengthening the country's sovereignty requires a new model for forming the HQCJ – round table

Discussion

Strengthening the country's sovereignty requires a new model for forming the HQCJ – round table

The model of the competition commission for selecting members of the High Qualification Commission of Judges, introduced as an anti-crisis measure, has exhausted itself. The inaction of the HCJ in forming a new composition of the CC, the lack of accountability, and the existing signs of political influence indicate that powers should be transferred directly to the entities responsible for forming the HQCJ as defined by law.

10:41 Thu 10.07.25 134
UNBA Committee reviews new cases of violence against advocates in TCC

Guarantees of the practice of law

UNBA Committee reviews new cases of violence against advocates in TCC

New facts of physical violence, obstruction of access to clients, as well as sabotage of investigations in cases involving lawyers were considered by the UNBA Committee on the Protection of Lawyers' Rights and Guarantees of the Legal Profession during its last meeting.

16:34 Tue 08.07.25 109
One third of complaints to the UNBA are due to unlawful actions by the TCC

Guarantees of the practice of law

One third of complaints to the UNBA are due to unlawful actions by the TCC

In the first half of 2025, the Committee for the protection of lawyers' rights and guarantees of advocacy of the Ukrainian National Bar Association recorded 46 complaints of violations of professional rights. A third of these concerned unlawful actions by territorial recruitment centers—systematic obstruction of advocacy or violation of the right to defense.

14:21 Wed 02.07.25 156
The HCJ continues to ignore the legal deadlines for forming the Competition Commission of the HQCJ

Self-government

The HCJ continues to ignore the legal deadlines for forming the Competition Commission of the HQCJ

The High Council of Justice continues to violate the statutory deadlines for forming a new competition commission to select members of the Competition Commission of the High Qualification Commission of Judges of Ukraine.

17:18 Mon 23.06.25 168
UNBA asked the UBA about the facts of the alleged violations of lawyers' rights

Advocacy

UNBA asked the UBA about the facts of the alleged violations of lawyers' rights

The National Bar Association of Ukraine is concerned about information regarding violations of the professional rights of advocates and guarantees of advocacy, which was disseminated on June 16 by the UPO «Ukrainian Bar Association». This issue will be discussed at a meeting of the Bar Council of Ukraine.

14:49 Fri 20.06.25 147

Надішліть файл із текстом публікації у форматі *.doc, фотографію за тематикою у розмірі 640х400 та Ваше фото.

Оберіть файл