A delegation of the High Council of Justice (HCJ) is paying a working visit to The Hague (Kingdom of the Netherlands) at the invitation of the Chair of the Council for the Judiciary of the Netherlands, Henk Naves.
The Ukrainian delegation includes: HCJ Chair Hryhorii Usyk; HCJ members Yuliia Bokova, Serhii Burlakov, Oleh Kandziuba, Alla Kotelevets, Roman Maselko, and Oleksandr Sasevych; as well as Head of the Department for Judicial Careers, Disciplinary Liability, and Judicial Independence of the HCJ Secretariat, Yuliia Lukasevych.
The purpose of the visit is to establish bilateral cooperation between the HCJ and the Council for the Judiciary of the Netherlands in order to achieve concrete and practical results that will help support and strengthen the rule of law, further develop Ukraine’s judiciary in line with European standards, enhance integrity in the judicial system, reinforce independence and accountability of the judiciary, and restore public trust in judicial authority.
As part of the visit, the host side has scheduled a series of presentations aimed at familiarizing Ukrainian colleagues with the Netherlands’ practical experience in the field of justice, which may be useful for Ukraine, as well as other relevant topics important for both sides.
In his welcoming remarks, HCJ Chair Hryhorii Usyk emphasized the importance of international support and partnership in strengthening the independence of Ukraine’s judiciary.
“It is a great honor for us to be in the Netherlands today and to have the opportunity to exchange experiences in the field of justice. We are sincerely grateful for the warm welcome and readiness to cooperate. In the face of the enormous challenges confronting Ukraine, international support is of vital importance for building an effective and independent judiciary", said Hryhorii Usyk.
The HCJ Chair stressed that the development of justice is impossible without four key components: strategy, integrity, leadership, and clear guiding principles. These, he noted, define society’s trust in the judiciary and its ability to withstand modern challenges.
He also drew attention to the role of the High Council of Justice in setting the strategic directions of the judicial system, supporting reforms, ensuring transparency and accountability of the judiciary, and engaging in communication with the public and international partners.
“For Ukraine, it is crucial to ensure public trust in the judiciary. Integrity of judges and leadership in management can serve as the foundation for a new quality of justice", Usyk underlined.
He further emphasized that the Ukrainian side seeks to adopt the best practices of the Dutch judicial system, which stands as an example of stability, transparency, and accountability.
“Only together, by combining experience and resources, can we strengthen the independence of justice, face challenges, and guarantee citizens fair and effective courts", he concluded.