[Launch] Knowledge hub on international criminal law for Ukrainian judiciary

On 8 September 2025, the Asser Institute and European Union Advisory Mission (EUAM) will launch the “Knowledge Hub on International Criminal Law for the Ukrainian Judiciary” in Kyiv, Ukraine. This initiative will work directly with Ukrainian judges to bridge the gap between them and international legal experts, connecting judges with trusted information sources, guidance, and professional networks. The launch marks a crucial milestone in strengthening Ukraine's justice sector as the country continues navigating ongoing armed conflict while conducting large-scale investigations and trials of international crimes.

Ukraine faces a major challenge in holding perpetrators accountable for international crimes. Ukrainian judges are playing a vital role in this process, but they face legal, practical, and institutional barriers in increasing their knowledge of and consistently applying international humanitarian law, international criminal law, and international human rights law in national court proceedings.

The relative novelty of adjudicating international crimes, combined with the limitations of Ukrainian legislation, requires the judges to accurately interpret and apply war crimes provisions derived from international treaties and customary international law. This demands comprehensive expertise with international law, which many judges are still developing. Apart from the sources of law, Ukrainian judges and other legal professionals are further limited by the lack of availability of essential materials in the Ukrainian language. Most of the key jurisprudence from international criminal courts and tribunals, authoritative legal manuals, and specialised reference materials remain inaccessible to Ukrainian-speaking legal practitioners.

Trusted sources
The new Knowledge Hub on International Criminal Law for the Ukrainian Judiciary seeks to address this gap. The Hub will serve as a bridge between Ukrainian judges and international legal expertise, linking them with trusted sources of information, guidance, and professional networks. A small team of legal experts with experience in international criminal law will maintain the portal, respond to judicial queries, and prepare trainings and other materials. Importantly, the structure and priorities of the Hub are defined in close cooperation with Ukrainian judges who are handling conflict-related cases.

Peer-to-peer learning
Until now, no dedicated structure existed to support the Ukrainian judiciary with sustained access to tailored expertise, peer-to-peer learning, or curated legal resources on international criminal law. Related initiatives, such as those by academic institutions or international organisations, are often fragmented, not systematically aligned with the needs of domestic judges, or primarily target international audiences.

Asser Institute project leader Gabriele Chlevickaite says: “The Knowledge Hub represents more than just a repository of legal resources—it is a bridge to justice built through genuine partnership. Working closely with the European Union Advisory Mission, the National School of Judges, Ukrainian courts, and dedicated judges, we aim to support not only the judiciary’s needs now, but also look beyond the armed conflict; creating a lasting foundation for accountability for international crimes and the rule of law in Ukraine.”

To follow the launch in person or online, please click here (seating is limited; registration on a first-come, first-served basis).

[Project] Restoring Dignity and Justice in Ukraine
The new Hub and other capacity-building activities are conducted by the  Asser Institute under the ‘Restoring Dignity and Justice in Ukraine’ programme. This programme is funded by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands, and implemented by a consortium led by the International Development Law Organization (IDLO) in partnership with the Asser Institute, the Center for International Legal Cooperation (CILC), and the Netherlands Helsinki Committee (NHC).

About Gabrielė Chlevickaitė
Dr Gabriele Chlevickaite is an international criminal law researcher at the Asser Institute, where she coordinates international criminal law-related projects and conducts research into fact-finding in international criminal investigations and prosecutions. She is part of the Asser Institute research strand ‘In the public interest: accountability of the state and the prosecution of crimes’, which examines state accountability and international crime prosecution. It also focuses on the role of journalists, digital media, human rights NGOs, and academics in protecting and promoting public interest standards.