A Ukrainian Delegation Visits the UIHJ in Paris on 15 June 2017

The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), together with the Ministry of Justice of Ukraine organized a study visit to France on best practices in establishing and functioning of private judgment enforcement system. As part of this programme, after visiting the National Chamber of Judicial Officers of France, the delegation went to the UIHJ headquarters on 15 June 2017. The delegation met Secretary General of the UIHJ, Mathieu Chardon.

The delegation included Sergii Shkilar, Deputy Minister of Justice of Ukraine, Kostiantyn Silkin, Deputy Head of State Enforcement Department at the Ministry of Justice of Ukraine, Amb. Vaidotas Verba, Head of Mission, OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Ukraine, Nataliia Stupnytska, National Programme Officer, OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Ukraine, Iryna Ivankiv, National Project Officer,  OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Ukraine, Sergii Mudruk, Oleksandr Sivokozov, Zorian Makovetskyi, Oleksander Paligin and Sergii Pyroha, Private Judicial Officers, and Nathalie Boyko-Jacura, interpreter.

A reform is currently underway in Ukraine. This reform aims to liberalize the profession of judicial officer, while retaining a body of State employed judicial officers. About 70 judicial officers have already reached this new status. Others are waiting to be able to join their ranks. The creation within the coming months of a National Chamber of Liberal Judicial Officers in Ukraine is also underway.

Mathieu Chardon presented the UIHJ, its purpose, its functioning and its achievements. He mentioned the forthcoming international congress of judicial officers to be held in Bangkok from 1st to 4th May 2018, inviting all Ukrainian judicial officers to attend. He explained the interest for Ukraine to cooperate with the UIHJ, in particular in the framework of the elaboration of rules of ethics for the profession.

The discussion then addressed the ground for a cooperation agreement to allow Ukraine to become a member of the UIHJ. The UIHJ welcomes this official meeting and is at the disposal of the Ukrainian authorities to ensure a full success to this new cooperation.