OSCE Project Co-ordinator supports development of administrative justice in Ukraine

KYIV, 24 November 2008 - Judicial review of administrative disputes is the focus of a seminar organized by the OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Ukraine (PCU) in Kyiv today.

The five-day event brings together administrative court judges to discuss recent cases related to the judicial review of administrative disputes. The event is part of a project to support the development of administrative law and administrative justice in Ukraine by monitoring court practices and through specialized courses for judges.

"The OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Ukraine aims to help improve the quality and consistency of administrative court judgments, and training for administrative court judges is a critical part of these efforts," said Todd Becker, Senior Project Manager at the Office of the Project Co-ordinator in Ukraine.

The OSCE PCU has helped to train administrative court judges since 2005, following the country's adoption of the Code of Administrative Court Procedures. A working group, established by the OSCE PCU, carried out monitoring of administrative court cases to update the existing training programme for judges.

The seminar was jointly organized by the OSCE PCU, the USAID "Rule of Law: Ukraine" project, the Academy of Judges of Ukraine, the Higher Administrative Court of Ukraine and the Centre for Political and Legal Reforms.