Violation of media guarantees of advocacy is being studied by the UNBA
An open appeal of the Ukrainian National Bar Association's Committee on Information Policy and Interaction with the Mass Media to the advocates.
By defending or representing clients in high-profile cases, Ukrainian attorneys-at-law attract additional media attention to their personalities.
At the same time, journalists, when covering the circumstances of such cases and the work of the attorney, unfortunately, do not always adhere to professional standards: balance of opinions, reliability, separation of facts from comments, accuracy and completeness.
There are quite common cases when information about the activities of a defense counsel is presented in a biased manner, using false, unverified or inaccurate data, without clarifying the point of view of the lawyer mentioned in the material. Emotional coloring and distortion of the work of providing legal aid, which is provided for by the Constitution of Ukraine and the procedural codes, has become almost the norm today.
At the same time, the guarantees of the practice of law are directly violated. Due to the disregard for the presumption of innocence, when defendants are called criminals before the verdict and lawyers are called defenders of criminals, lawyers are actually identified with clients, which is expressly prohibited by the Law «On the Bar and Practice of Law».
As a result, the public has a negative attitude towards both a particular defense lawyer (which affects the person's business reputation) and the institution of the Bar as a whole.
The protection of advocates from external information influence is one of the tasks of the UNBA Committee on Information Policy and Media Relations.
Therefore, the Committee asks lawyers who have faced violations of guarantees of their activities by the media and individual journalists to provide information about such facts to o.shevchuk@mail.unba.org.ua or fill out the appropriate Google form.
Since it is also a matter of disregard for journalistic standards and the provisions of the Law of Ukraine «On Media», the collected information on specific facts will be sent to the state media regulator to find ways to resolve this problematic issue.
Chairman of the UNBA Committee
on Information Policy
and Media Relations O. Shevchuk
04.03.2024
Popular news
Self-government
The BCU demands a review of the composition of the government working group on reforming the advocacy profession
The President of the UNBA, BCU Lidiya Izovitova, appealed to the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine to review the composition of the working group on improving legislation in the field of advocacy and legal practice.
Discussion
Why lowering the age of marriage lacks legal logic
Although until 2012 there was a provision in family law that allowed children to marry from the age of 14 under certain circumstances, its return to Ukrainian law would contradict international obligations and the logic of criminal law.
European integration
Open dialogue between the UNBA and the European Commission on the path to EU
The Ukrainian National Bar Association held a working meeting in Brussels with Mr Wolfgang Nozar, Head of Unit for Governance, Rule of Law and Financial Assistance, Directorate-General for Enlargement and Eastern Neighbourhood (DG ENEST), European Commission.
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?
European integration
UNBA and Ukraine's representation to the EU have synchronized their priorities
On February 5, in Brussels, the President of the UNBA, BCU Lidiya Izovitova held a working meeting with the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Ukraine, Representative of Ukraine to the European Union Vsevolod Chentsov.
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.
Interaction
«With us — to Europe»: Italian advocacy supports UNBA initiatives
On January 30, a meeting was held in Rome between a delegation from the Ukrainian National Bar Association and the National Bar Council of Italy (Consiglio Nazionale Forense, CNF) on the standards and practices of the legal profession and their significance for Ukraine's European integration process.
Interaction
France confirms cooperation with UNBA on reforms in the field of the rule of law
On January 29, a working meeting between representatives of the Ukrainian National Bar Association and the French National Bar Council (Conseil National des Barreaux, CNB) took place in Paris.
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
