Knowledge Hub International Criminal Law - Ukrainian Judiciary

Ukraine faces an unprecedented 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.
At present, no dedicated structure exists to support the judiciary with sustained access to tailored expertise, peer-to-peer learning, or curated legal resources on international law. While related initiatives exist, such as those by academic institutions or international organisations, they are often fragmented, not systematically aligned with the needs of domestic judges, or primarily target international audiences.
About the Knowledge Hub
The Knowledge Hub on International Criminal Law for the Ukrainian Judiciary seeks to address this gap. It is a judicial support initiative aimed at:
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Strengthening judicial capacity through tailored training, peer dialogue, and expert engagement.
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Providing access to trusted legal resources via an electronic portal tailored to the Ukrainian judicial context.
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Ensuring sustainability by institutionalising knowledge sharing and developing a structure embedded in the Ukrainian judiciary.
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. The Hub will also facilitate questions from judges via an online form and a dedicated email (KnowledgeHub@asser.nl).