Ukrainian and American Bar Association Meet in Nation’s Capital
Discuss current challenges to the rule of law in Ukraine
Washington DC – (Wednesday, October 28, 2015) – A delegation of the Ukrainian National Bar Association met with representatives of the American Bar Association, Rule of Law Initiative, Wednesday in Washington DC. The aim of the visit by the UNBA was to discuss the role and history of the UNBA in Ukraine and issues of current legal reform in the country. The UNBA delegation was led by it’s Deputy Head Mr. Valentyn Gvozdiy, who was joined by the UNBA Secretary Pavel Grechkivsky and Deputy Head of International Relations Committee Ivan Grechkivsky.
The meeting focused on the still relatively recent establishment of the UNBA and its role vis-à-vis attorneys within Ukraine. Gvozdiy discussed several key relationships they UNBA has formed with international partners, and its initiative to develop a strategic vision for the organization with the help of the Council of Europe and European Union. The discussion also focused on potential threats to legal profession, (first of all for the Bar), and the rule of in Ukraine, and the need for continued reform in this sector, including urgent need of reform in the state’s current imperfect scheme for providing of legal aid according to best world practice.
Participants agreed on the paramount importance of the freedom and exercise of the legal profession, and the independence of attorneys, in well-established and new democracies alike.
Popular news
Self-government
A report on Ukrainian advocacy was presented in the European Parliament
Can a shadow report on advocacy replace the political framework of the Roadmap on the rule of law with demands for the restructuring of self-government? Where is the line between accountability and the seizure of institutions? And how can we respond to narratives with data rather than impressions?
Guarantees of the practice of law
Proceedings opened following attack on advocate in Dnipro
The Committee for the protection of advocates' rights and guarantees of legal practice of the UNBA appealed to law enforcement agencies in connection with an advocate's report of an attack while performing his professional duties. The information was entered into the Unified Register of Pre-trial Investigations and a pre-trial investigation was initiated.
Abroad
UNBA office opens in EU capital
To strengthen the institutional presence of the Ukrainian advocacy community at the European level, an office of the Ukrainian National Bar Association has been opened in Brussels (Belgium), which will serve as a permanent platform for dialogue with European partners.
Guarantees of the practice of law
Identifying an advocate with a client is a blow to justice, — V. Gvozdiy
By defending individuals in criminal proceedings, advocates are in fact fighting for every person's right to a fair trial. Therefore, any identification of an advocate with their client is a blow not only to the profession, but also to justice itself.
Guarantees of the practice of law
Impunity for public stigmatization of advocates violates the constitutional right to defense
The prohibition of identifying an advocate with a client is an international standard enshrined in the Law «On advocacy and legal practice». However, without accountability, this guarantee does not work, which poses a direct threat to the realization of the right to defense and the principle of adversarial proceedings.
Legislation
Inheritance of a share in joint property and more: advocates have made comments
In the event of the death of one of the subjects of joint shared ownership, the shares of each of the co-owners in the joint shared ownership shall be deemed equal, unless otherwise agreed between them, by law, or by a court decision.
Discussion
How the reform of advocacy is «preventing» Ukraine from signing the Council of Europe Convention
During the regular meeting of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on legal policy held on January 12, MPs heard information from the Ministry of Justice on resolving the issue of signing and ratifying the Council of Europe Convention on the protection of the profession of advocate.
Legislation
Implementation of the Roadmap: the composition of the working group ensures a high level of expertise
The composition of the Working Group on the implementation of the Roadmap on the rule of law in relation to advocacy demonstrates the high institutional level of the experts involved by the Ukrainian National Bar Association in the formation of a package of decisions.
Publications
Volodymyr Matsko Extradition as a systemic form of rights violations
Victoria Yakusha, Law and Business The anti-corruption vertical cannot «take care» of the Bar as an institution, - acting head of the HQDCB
Censor.net Protecting advocates – protecting justice: addressing concerns about the new law
Ihor Kolesnykov A BRIEF SUMMARY REGARDING THE APPLICATION OF THE ORDER ON EXTENDED CONFISCATION IN LATVIA REGARDING FINANCIAL ASSETS OF…
Valentyn Gvozdiy WORKING IN A WAR ZONE
Lydia Izovitova Formula of perfection
Sergiy Vylkov Our judicial system is so built that courts do not trust advocates
Iryna Vasylyk Advocacy in the proclamation of Independence of Ukraine
