On 7-8 December 2015, International charitable organization “Environment-People-Law” jointly with the National School of Judges of Ukraine held training for judges of administrative courts.
The training was held within approbation of the course for judges “Environmental protection and human rights” with support of USAID Fair Justice Project.
Participants of the training learnt about the Aarhus Convention and perspectives of protecting environmental human rights, issues of access to justice in environmental matters, effective tools of legal protection and injunction, jurisprudence of the European Court of Human Rights and interrelation of human rights and environmental protection.
The course approbation was conducted using a special methodology of adult training that differs from conventional academic method of presenting information following the main requirement of European standard: training of trainers.
In the course of training there was held a role game where acting judges had a possibility to act as NGO representatives – plaintiffs, defenders and other litigation parties. The training was interactive and its results were positively evaluated by judges-trainers and judges trainees.
According to the founder of the Academy of Judges of Ukraine Iryna Voytiuk, this training was the most profound over the whole period of judicial education starting from 2003.
Judges-trainees mentioned that the topic was new to them because in practice they do not have much to do with environmental issues.
Trainer of the course, judge of Odessa Appellate Administrative Court Larysa Zuyeva expressed her hope that after completing this course, environmental protection will become for judges a priority in making decisions.
All participants stated that the course approbation was interesting and useful for them, that organizers and trainers chose an effective method of training and the knowledge they gained will be used in practice.
Therefore, all participants agree that the approbation of the course for judges “Environmental protection and human rights” was successful.
Awareness of judges of the Aarhus Convention and its application will increase effectiveness of the judicial system for protection of environmental human rights and the environment as well as dissemination of experience of the newest tendencies of environmental law development in Ukraine and in the world, will improve the judicial practice in the sphere of environmental protection and ensure proper judicial protection of environmental rights of Ukrainian citizens.
For further information please contact:
Iryna Voytiuk, member of EPL’s Executive Board
Email: irynavot@ukr.net; office@epl.org.ua
Tel.: (032) 225 – 76 – 82
OlenaKravchenko, EPLExecutiveDirector
Email: okravchenko@epl.org.ua; office@epl.org.ua
Tel.: (032) 225 – 76 – 82
***************************************************************************************
International charitable organization “Environment-People-Law” (EPL) was founded in 1994 and works on the national and international levels with the aim to provide free legal assistance to citizens and legal units for protection of their environmental rights and the environment. EPL does awareness-raising in the sphere of environment preservation, development of environmental science and culture in Ukraine and abroad, works to enforce environmental legislation in Ukraine and reformation of the national legal system to bring it into compliance with international standards of human rights and the environment, builds jurisprudence for protection of citizens’ rights and promoting awareness in the field of environmental law for protection of the environment and culture.
The National School of Judges is a state institution with a special status ensuring training of highly competent professionals for the judicial system and carrying out research.
The National School of Judges of Ukraine ensures organization of specialized training for candidates for judge’s position, training of judges appointed to the position for the first time, judges appointed permanently, judges occupying administrative positions in courts, periodical training for judges with the aim to raise qualification level, training for court administration staff, carrying out research on improvement of judicature; learning international experience of organization of court functioning; academic and methodological support for functioning of courts of general jurisdiction, High Qualification Commission of Judges of Ukraine and the Supreme Council of Justice.
USAID Fair Justice Project has been working in Ukraine since October 2011. Activities of the project are based on achievements of the previous USAID Ukraine Rule of Law Project implemented from May 2006 till September 2011. The goal of the project is to promote establishing the rule of law in Ukraine via support for judicial reforms, raising the level of transparency and accountability of the judicial system, improvement of citizens’ awareness of functioning of the judicial system and raising social trust to the judicial power. Detailed information on USAID Fair Justice Project can be found at the official web-site www.fair.org.ua or at tel. +38 (044) 581-3303.
American people via United States Agency for International Development provide economic and humanitarian support all over the world for over 50 years. In Ukraine USAID assistance is provided in the following spheres: economic development, democracy and governance, public health and social sector. Starting from 1992, the United States Agency for International Development has provided to Ukraine technical and humanitarian support worth 1,7 million USD. Further information on USAID programs in Ukraine can be obtained at the official USAID web-site at http://ukraine.usaid.gov and Facebook https://www.facebook.com/USAIDUkraine
