Ombudsman to provide legal aid with support of UNBA - pilot project
The Office of the Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights has launched a pilot project to provide professional legal aid to citizens in five regions of Ukraine.
The project is being implemented in Zakarpatti The Ombudsman's Office explains that during the reception of citizens, there are sometimes cases when applicants need additional professional legal assistance (drafting claims, lawyer's requests, etc.), but for various reasons cannot use free secondary legal aid.
To ensure the right to professional legal aid, enshrined in Article 59 of the Constitution of Ukraine, the regional bar councils, with the UNBA's approval, will participate in restoring the violated rights of those citizens who apply to the Ombudsman. The lawyers will provide the necessary explanations and, in some cases, professional legal assistance.
It should be reminded that the UNBA's recently presented Report on topical issues of the functioning of the legal aid system in Ukraine notes that the deepening crisis in the relations between the state and the bar in the field of legal aid provision, long-term disregard for the UNBA's position has led to fundamental changes characterized by the loss of the primary focus on the person as the highest value by the legal aid system.a, Dnipro, Ivano-Frankivsk, Rivne and Khmelnytskyi regions under the Memorandum of Cooperation signed between the Ombudsman and the Ukrainian National Bar Association.
According to the agreement, lawyers will provide professional legal aid to citizens who apply for consultations during the reception of the Ombudsman's representatives in the regions.
At the same time, the constitutional and legislatively defined model of guaranteeing the right to professional legal aid to everyone includes a special provider of its provision - the Bar. And it is the advocates, as special entities that meet specially defined requirements, and the activities they carry out to provide legal aid, the quality of which is guaranteed by special procedures and mechanisms, that are the defining elements of this model of providing everyone with professional, not just any, legal aid.
Popular news
Legislation
The UNBA explained what could undermine the plan to introduce plea agreements
Information regarding who pays whom, how much, and on what grounds under a plea agreement must be made public. However, as long as this information is classified as a state secret or personal data, the court will continue to be able to close proceedings and restrict access to judgments.
Interaction
The UNBA and the German Institute for Eastern Law will prepare joint legal opinions
Ukrainian advocates and German legal scholars will jointly prepare comparative legal studies, expert opinions, and professional events. The UNBA reached this agreement with the Institute for Eastern European Law in Regensburg, which has been researching the laws of Central and Eastern European countries for nearly 70 years.
Legislation
Proceedings against military personnel following AWOL require clear deadlines — UNBA
A soldier’s return to duty after AWOL does not necessarily mean the end of criminal proceedings. To ensure that the case does not remain at the pretrial investigation stage, a clear procedure for the investigator and prosecutor is required.
Educational events
A one-time payment or royalties? Students were briefed on changes to copyright agreements
As a general rule, property rights to a work created by an employee are transferred to the employer, but the author retains the right to remuneration. European law requires that this remuneration be based on the actual income generated by the work, rather than being limited to a one-time payment.
Legislation
The UNBA warned of the risk of customs barriers for Ukrainian paper and furniture
Ukraine’s anti-deforestation rules are intended to preserve export access to the EU market. However, without paper and furniture on the list of goods, without effective sanctions, and with enforcement beginning only in 2030, these rules could hinder that goal.
Legislation
Fines for loud exhaust — based on a standardized measurement method — UNBA
Measures to combat intentionally loud exhaust noises are justified, especially during wartime. However, as long as the law does not specify which noise standard to apply or how to measure it on the road, this new liability can be neither fair nor effective.
Educational events
What should an advocate do if a client is under severe stress?
An advocate may encounter a client in a state of acute stress, when the person is looking at the other person but does not see them. Before discussing the case, it is important to bring the client back to reality: establish contact, ask a few questions, and engage their senses.
Guarantees of the practice of law
Guarantees for advocacy without protective measures: proposed changes to the codes
The current law sets forth the rights and guarantees of the legal profession, but lacks the tools to protect them. The future law on advocacy is intended to fill this gap through amendments to criminal, administrative and procedural legislation.
Publications
Vasyl Kolishnyi, «Law and Business» Supporting mental health should become part of the professional culture of the Bar, - H. Udovenko
Volodymyr Matsko Extradition during wartime: when the risks outweigh the request
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
