Olya Melen-Zabramna participated in the meeting of the Task Force on Access to Justice in environmental matters, organized under the auspices of Aarhus Convention in Geneva during 4-5 April 2023.
The meeting was focused on discussion of progress and challenges in access to justice in energy related issues and in the cases related to biodiversity. Participants were also sharing their experience on the recent legislative developments affecting implementation of art.9 of the Aarhus Convention, also shared their views on the problems affecting litigation in environmental cases, namely costs, assess to free legal aid, availability of redress and application of injunction relief, duration of the procedures, etc. Finally, the Task Force considered the issues of recent developments in the field of access to justice at the EU level, shared best cases of application of electronic tools, implementation of e-justice.
Olya had a presentation on implementation of e-justice in Ukraine and use of modern tools and technologies facilitating litigation in environmental issues, shared the practice of video-conferencing during litigation on the case v. Rokoban LTD.
During discussion of recent developments in the field of access to justice, Olya made a statement on the challenge that war in Ukraine had been creating for the environment of Ukraine and the need to ensure the access to justice in the cases of compensation of damage done to environment in Ukraine at national and international levels. The issue of the war will be also reflected in the Report of the Task Force meeting.
