The Council of Europe supports the development of UNBA

The Council of Europe Office in Ukraine will provide all possible support for the development of the Ukrainian National Bar Association and its initiatives for the benefit of Ukrainian society.
This was stated by the Head of the Council of Europe Office in Ukraine Maciej Janczak during a working meeting with the leadership of the Ukrainian National Bar Association, held in Kyiv on July 16.
The Ukrainian side was represented by Lidiya Izovitova, the President of the UNBA, BCU, her Deputy Valentyn Gvozdiy, and Vadym Krasnyk, Head of the UNBA Secretariat.
The topic of discussion was the challenges of war in the context of UNBA 's activities and possible ways of cooperation to strengthen the implementation of Council of Europe standards. As a reminder, on December 14, 2022, the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe adopted the Council of Europe Action Plan for Ukraine «Resilience, Recovery and Rebuilding» 2023-2026.
Among the measures aimed at ensuring the support of the justice system in accordance with European human rights standards, paragraph 2.1 of the Plan provides for the provision of strategic and legal advice to public authorities, as well as to the bar and the system of free legal aid. In addition, it is planned to strengthen the professional capacity of lawyers, improve the quality of legal education and support the development of the Ukrainian National Bar Association, other legal associations and FLAs, as well as the free legal aid system.
As a result of the meeting, it was agreed to hold an operational meeting with the Council of Europe project managers to identify further concrete actions to support the UNBA.
Popular news

Advocacy
«Military advocates» have nothing to do with advocacy – UNBA statement
The activities of the «military advocates» who forcefully «repel» mobilized persons liable for military service in the TCC have nothing to do with legal practice based on the principles of the rule of law and legality.

Advocacy
Commentary to the Council of Europe Convention on the protection of the profession of lawyer translated into Ukrainian
Along with the Convention on the Protection of the Profession of Lawyer, the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe also approved an explanatory report to it. This document is a kind of official commentary to be used by countries in the application of the international treaty.

Advocacy
«The Convention will enhance the quality of human protection from criminal prosecution», - Valentyn Gvozdiy, the Vic…
Recently, the Council of Europe adopted the Convention on the Protection of the Profession of Lawyer, an international treaty that guarantees the independence, security and self-governance of lawyers. The latter call it a key step towards strengthening the rule of law. But what does this mean in practice, why is the Convention of extraordinary value - these and other questions were answered by Valentyn Gvozdiy, the Vice President of the UNBA, BCU, to the host of Fakty ICTV.

Advocacy
Ratification of the Convention on the protection of the legal profession will strengthen the legal system – UNBA
The Ukrainian National Bar Association has called on MPs and relevant ministries to ensure the expedited signing and ratification of the Council of Europe Convention on the Protection of the Profession of Lawyer by Ukraine.

Advocacy
The BCU declared inadmissible the reorganization of the Odesa Law Academy
The Bar Council of Ukraine considers it appropriate to support the preservation of the National University Odesa Law Academy as an independent university, whose decades-long traditions and high standards of education and academic independence determine its distinctive uniqueness.

Advocacy
Ukraine should be one of the first to ratify the Convention on the Protection of the Profession of Lawyer - V. Gvozdiy
Ukraine definitely needs to be among the countries that will be the first to ratify the Convention on the Protection of the Profession of Lawyer, adopted by the Council of Europe on March 12, in order to confirm its status as a legal and democratic state.

Advocacy
Convention on the protection of the profession of advocate adopted by the Council of Europe
The Council of Europe at its 1522nd meeting, held on March 11 and 12, 2025, adopted the Council of Europe Convention for the Protection of the Profession of Lawyer.

Advocacy
European Presidents Conference 2025: Challenges to the Rule of Law by Lidiya Izovitova
Against the backdrop of the war in Ukraine and the discussion of guarantees of its security, there is a growing militarization of political discourse not only in Ukraine but also in European countries. In the context of martial law, the issue of reforming the military justice system, including the possibility of creating an institute of military advocacy, has become particularly relevant.
Publications

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

Oleksandr DULSKY When we cross the border of the Supreme Anti-Corruption Court, we get into another department of the National Anti-Corruption…

Vadym Krasnyk The UNBA will work, and all obstacles and restrictions are only temporary inconveniences

Lydia Izovitova Interview with Lydia Izovitova on the occasion of the 8th anniversary of the founding of UNBA: We are the voice of t…