For three days, from March 13 to 15, 2024, with the support of the “Fair, Transparent and Accountable Criminal Justice System in Ukraine” Project of the Center for International Legal Cooperation (CILC), representatives of the judiciary and judicial self-government bodies of Ukraine took part in training activities held in the Hague, the Kingdom of the Netherlands. The High Qualification Commission of Judges of Ukraine was represented by the Chairman of the Commission Roman Ihnatov.
On the first day of the visit, the Project Leader, Doctor of Law, Senior Judge of the District Court of Amsterdam Esther de Rooij, Project Director Margreet Goelema and representatives of the Dutch Council for the Judiciary greeted the participants, after which the Ukrainian delegates visited Utrecht to familiarize themselves with the activities of the Training and Study Centre for the Judiciary (SSR). The centre’s uniqueness is that it serves as a platform for the exchange of knowledge and professional experience not only of judges, but also of prosecutors and scholars in the field of law, where innovative methods are used and a special digital learning environment functions.
In The Hague, the Ukrainian delegates took part in a roundtable discussion at the Supreme Court of the Netherlands, learned about the peculiarities of the institution’s activities and personally met with the President of the Court, Ms. Dineke de Groot.
The visit to the International Criminal Court (ICC), which has jurisdiction over such crimes as genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity, has acquired special significance in the context of today’s realities. After the full-scale invasion in Ukraine by the russian federation, the issue of justice in relation to the mentioned crimes is highly topical and socially sensitive. It was on this matter that a broad discussion took place with representatives of the ICC.
The participants also visited the Den Bosch Court of Appeal, where they met with members of the Integrity Commission of this court.
Ukraine was also represented by the Head of the Council of Judges of Ukraine Bohdan Monich, member of the High Council of Justice Oksana Kvasha, judge of the Criminal Cassation Court within the Supreme Court Lev Kyshakevych, and heads of a number of Ukrainian courts.