Defending the Rule of Law and Human Rights in Wartime Ukraine – Key Issues and Lessons

The International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA) together with the Centre of Policy and Legal Reform and the National University of “Kyiv Mohyla Academy” are organizing an online Roundtable Discussion: “Defending the Rule of Law and Human Rights in Wartime Ukraine - Key Issues and Lessons” on Monday, 14 November, 13:30 CET (Brussels time). 

Russia’s ongoing war of aggression against Ukraine has affected the work of Ukraine’s state institutions in unprecedented ways⁠—ranging from the destruction of infrastructure, displacement, loss of staff and disruption of their regular working processes. This directly impacts the ability of these institutions to implement their mandates and functions, and importantly, their ability to provide timely and accurate information to the general public and to particularly those that are directly affected by the war.
 
To support the parliament and government agencies in addressing this deficit, the Centre of Policy and Legal Reform and the National University of “Kyiv Mohyla Academy”, with assistance from the International IDEA, have initiated the establishment of a network of volunteer legal experts from various fields of law and public policy⁠—Law in Wartime. This network makes available multi-faceted and timely legal expertise to parliament and to other state bodies to assist them in the interpretation and implementation of various state policies in times of war. In addition, the network members work to proactively inform citizens about what legal recourse and redress is available to them in relation to various situations caused by the war.
 
This online Roundtable Discussion will feature the founders and the leading experts working within the Network, to present the key insights and lessons from their work to date. Discussions will help highlight the issues that have been the most demanded questions from the public: how do bodies of local self-government function under martial law? How to access official information from state agencies during martial law? What are the rules for holding peaceful assemblies during times of war? How do courts function in times of war? While the initiative yields direct benefits to Ukraine’s governance institutions and the public, the insights and lessons it has generated can inform broader reflections and measures for building resilience and preparedness of democratic governance institutions for any potential adversity or crisis. Participants of the roundtable will be able to ask questions to the founders and the lawyers contributing to the work of the network.

REGISTER HERE

PROGRAMME AGENDA

13:30 – 13:40 – Greetings and introductions

• Iuliia Kyrychenko, Member of the Board of the Center of Policy and Legal Reform, Founder of the "Law in Wartime" initiative, and contributing expert, The Center of the Rule of Law Research of the National University "Kyiv-Mohyla Academy"
• Nana Kalandadze, Programme Manager, International IDEA

 
13:40 - 14:30 – Key questions and lessons

• Denys Azarov, Dean of the Faculty of Law of the National University "Kyiv-Mohyla Academy", Founder of the "Law in Wartime" initiative and contributing expert

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• Volodymyr Venger, Executive Director of the Center of the Rule of Law Research of the National University "Kyiv-Mohyla Academy", Founder of the "Law in Wartime" initiative, and contributing expert

• Iuliia Kyrychenko, Member of the Board of the Center of Policy and Legal Reform, Founder of the "Law in Wartime" initiative, and contributing expert

 
14:30 - 14:50 – Questions from the audience
 
14:50 – 15:00 – Closing

SPEAKER BIOS

Dr Denys Azarov, Dean of the Faculty of Law of the National University "Kyiv-Mohyla Academy", Founder of the "Law in Wartime" initiative, Member of the Law educational sub-committee at the Ministry of education and science of Ukraine, Secretary of the Summit of Legal higher education facilities representatives aimed at the selection of the Higher Justice Council and at the selection of the Ukrainian Higher Judges’ Qualification Committee. Dr Azarov teaches Criminal Law at the National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy. His research interests include the classification of criminal offenses, differentiation, and individualization of criminal liability.

Ms Iuliia Kyrychenko, Member of the Board of the Center of Policy and Legal Reform (CPLR), Co-Chair of the Council of the Association of Public Organizations Reanimation Reform Package, and Founder of the "Law in Wartime" initiative. Ms Kyrychenko is an expert in the field of constitutional law, who has been active in improving the constitutional culture in Ukraine for the past 15 years. Ms Kyrychenko specializes in constitutional design, the functioning of political parties, constitutional control, elections, and referendum legislation.

Dr Volodymyr Venher, Executive Director of the Kyiv-Mohyla Rule of Law Research Center, Assistant Professor at the Department of Legal Theory and Public Law at the National University "Kyiv-Mohyla Academy", and Founder of the "Law in Wartime" initiative. Dr Venher conducts comprehensive research on the theoretical foundations and practice of implementing the rule of law and human rights standards in Ukraine. His research interests also include the development of methods of application of effectiveness criteria of public bodies functioning in the scope of providing public services, organizing and conducting elections, judicial control over implementing human rights, constitutional problematic of the principle of the division of power realization and limitation of discretionary powers as elements of the rule of law.

Ms Nana Kalandadze, Programme Manager, Regional Europe Office, International IDEA