Empowering Constitutional Justice: Strengthening the Constitutional Court of Ukraine’s Role in Advancing Gender Equality, Human Rights, and Rule of Law

In a time of significant legal, social, and institutional transformation, Ukraine stands at a critical juncture, navigating war-related challenges while continuing its governance reforms in anticipation of post-war recovery. The Constitutional Court of Ukraine (CCU), as a pillar of safeguarding democracy and the rule of law, is one of the key institutions underpinning the country’s resilience under these conditions. The Court’s role in safeguarding constitutional rights for all citizens is undermined by limited public trust, a lack of transparency, inadequate institutional capacity, and inefficient internal procedures. 

Ensuring constitutional justice that protects the rights of vulnerable groups - including national minorities, internally displaced persons, persons with disabilities, and other vulnerable communities - is vital for strengthening democratic resilience and legal equity. The CCU’s ability to review cases in a manner that recognizes the individual and/or specific needs and rights of these groups will be instrumental in aligning Ukraine’s judicial system with OSCE commitments in the areas of minority protection and non-discrimination. The project aims to enhance the CCU’s capacity to review cases effectively while integrating international best practices and gender-sensitive legal reasoning. 

The project implements a comprehensive approach that combines support for institutional reform, judicial capacity-building, public outreach, and engagement with civil society. To support Ukraine’s efforts in strengthening adherence to OSCE commitments, the project helps develop formal gender-sensitive adjudication toolkits and ethical guidelines, provide targeted training for CCU judges and staff, and supports the institutional adoption of procedures that promote transparency and inclusivity. The development of toolkits, legal research, consultations, and expert support for sensitive cases will help improve the consistency and enforceability of CCU rulings. In addition, the project will engage law students and young professionals through summer schools, contests, and internships to ensure the active role of younger generations in shaping the future of constitutional justice in Ukraine. 

The project draws on the joint accomplishments of the Support to national stakeholders in enhancing accessibility of constitutional justice  project, implemented by the OSCE in 2022-2025, and seeks to consolidate the achieved progress.