The rule of law and the right to defense: Ukraine in the spotlight at the BIC meeting at the IBA

Advocacy
16:59 Wed 01.11.23 461 Reviews
Print

Representatives of the Ukrainian legal community had the opportunity to tell their colleagues from many countries about the professional problems faced by defense lawyers during the war.

Today, on November 1, a meeting of the Bar Issues Commission (BIC) of the International Bar Association (IBA) took place in Paris, during which the participants explored methods of improving communication between bar associations and law societies, as well as crucial IBA resolutions and statements.

In his speech, Ken Murphy, Chairman of the BIC Commission, emphasized the importance of maintaining the rule of law at the global level, particularly in the face of current challenges.

Such challenges in the activities of attorneys in Ukraine were voiced by Valentyn Gvozdiy, Vice President of the Ukrainian National Bar Association, UNBA. He informed the members of the Commission about the situation with the rights of advocates in times of war. He also emphasized the importance of ensuring the right to defense for every citizen of Ukraine, even if it requires lawyers to work in the occupied territories. Valentyn Gvozdiy also condemned attempts to declare such lawyers collaborators and spoke about the relevant statement of the Bar Council of Ukraine adopted at the last meeting of the bar self-government body.

As a reminder, the International Bar Association was founded 75 years ago. Today, it unites about 80 thousand lawyers from most of the world's leading law firms and about 190 bar associations and law societies from more than 170 countries.

The BIC Commission actively supports the interests of IBA member organizations representing bar associations, law societies, and other similar bodies worldwide. Their activities include organizing events to discuss issues affecting the global legal professional world, creating working groups that develop resources for bar associations, etc.

Popular news

Another conflict with the TCC: an advocate's leg was broken and his client jumped out of a window

Advocacy

Another conflict with the TCC: an advocate's leg was broken and his client jumped out of a window

On June 19, at the premises of the military medical commission, where a bus from the Krasnograd Territorial Center for Recruitment and Social Support delivered several people, an incident occurred involving the use of physical force against an advocate.

13:34 Fri 20.06.25 115
The Bar Council of Ukraine appealed to the High Council of Justice due to delays in forming the Competition Commission of the HQCJ

Advocacy

The Bar Council of Ukraine appealed to the High Council of Justice due to delays in forming the Competition Commission of t…

On June 13, 2025, Lidiya Izovitova, President of the Bar Council of Ukraine, addressed Grigory Usik, Head of the High Council of Justice, regarding the violation of the deadlines for forming a new composition of the Competition Commission for the selection of members of the High Qualification Commission of Judges of Ukraine.

17:29 Fri 13.06.25 126
UNBA calls for compliance with Council of Europe standards for the legal profession

Advocacy

UNBA calls for compliance with Council of Europe standards for the legal profession

The recently approved roadmap for EU accession in terms of bar reform refers to non-existent European standards and was adopted in violation of international principles. Therefore, before talking about changes, it is necessary to compare the current model of the bar with the Council of Europe standards embodied in the Convention on the Protection of the Profession of Lawyer.

14:19 Fri 06.06.25 136
Mobilization of advocates in court: UNBA records another case of pressure

Advocacy

Mobilization of advocates in court: UNBA records another case of pressure

The Ukrainian advocacy has once again faced extrajudicial influence on advocates with the aim of obstructing the exercise of their legitimate powers related to the provision of professional legal assistance to clients.

16:35 Fri 30.05.25 213
BCU demands verification of authenticity of SSU letter on «dangerous» advocacy

Advocacy

BCU demands verification of authenticity of SSU letter on «dangerous» advocacy

The Bar Council of Ukraine will appeal to the head of the Security Service of Ukraine, Vasyl Malyuk, regarding the verification of information about «negative trends in the legal profession» disseminated by some media outlets on behalf of the SSU.

17:34 Wed 14.05.25 163
Council of Europe Convention on the Protection of the Profession of Advocate open for signature

Advocacy

Council of Europe Convention on the Protection of the Profession of Advocate open for signature

Thirteen member states of the Council of Europe have signed the Convention on the Protection of the Profession of Advocate, which was adopted by the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe on March 12, 2025. Four more countries will do so today. Ukraine is not among them.

9:28 Wed 14.05.25 197
BCU initiates resolution of the issue of visits by advocates to convicted persons

Advocacy

BCU initiates resolution of the issue of visits by advocates to convicted persons

Article 110 of the Criminal Enforcement Code guarantees convicted persons confidentiality of meetings with their advocate. One of the important elements is the possibility to communicate with an advocate in a room without a solid partition. In practice, this provision of the law is systematically violated.

12:32 Wed 07.05.25 145
Advocates, academics, and experts examine problems in forensic examination (video)

Advocacy

Advocates, academics, and experts examine problems in forensic examination (video)

The Ukrainian National Bar Association, in cooperation with leading scientific and research institutes of forensic expertise, organized a round table on expert support for legal practice.

14:39 Mon 05.05.25 169

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

Оберіть файл