MATRA Ukraine

MATRA-Ukraine 2025-2029: Advancing the rule of law in Ukraine: strengthening the judicial system and freedom of expression

The T.M.C. Asser Instituut and Center for International Legal Cooperation (CILC) are leading a comprehensive four-year programme to support Ukraine's rule of law development. This initiative focuses on improving the fairness, accessibility, and transparency of Ukraine's justice system while strengthening protections for freedom of expression and media freedom—critical elements for Ukraine's EU accession journey.

The programme works to build public trust in Ukraine's legal system through enhancing:

  • Transparency & Access to justice: Supporting courts in improving communication practices and enhancing public understanding of judicial processes. Advanced communications training programs.
  • Right to a fair trial: Developing advanced training programs for judges on fair trial rights, freedom of expression, and crisis communication. Involving CSOs to strengthen the impact of trial monitoring outcomes and creating dialogue platforms between legal actors, policymakers, and media representatives.
  • Protections of media freedom and freedom of expression: Empowering legal actors—judges, prosecutors, and law enforcement—to protect journalists and uphold freedom of expression according to international standards.
  • AI for the rule of law: Assessing and implementing AI technologies to advance fundamental rights within the judicial system.

The programme operates at national, regional, and local levels, combining technical assistance, capacity building, and stakeholder dialogue to ensure sustainable reform.

Ukrainian Partners:

  • National School of Judges of Ukraine
  • Council of Judges of Ukraine
  • High Council of Justice of Ukraine (HCJU)
  • Coordination Center for Legal Aid Provision (CCLAP)
  • Ukrainian Union of Human Rights (UUHRU)
  • DEJURE Foundation
  • Institute of Mass Information (IMI)
  • National Union of Journalists of Ukraine (NUJU)

Dutch Partners:

  • Council for the Judiciary of the Netherlands (RvdR)
  • Training and Study Centre for the Judiciary (SSR)
  • Public Prosecution Service (OM)
  • PersVeilig initiative
  • Selected Dutch courts

Expected Impact

This programme contributes directly to Ukraine's democratic stability and European integration by closing critical gaps in judicial effectiveness and media freedom protection. Through strengthened legal institutions and enhanced protection of fundamental rights, the initiative supports Ukraine's path toward EU membership while building a more transparent, accountable justice system that serves all citizens.

Project duration: 1 April 2025 - 1 April 2029

About MATRA Government to Government (G2G)

This project is funded by Matra G2G, a programme focused on the rule of law. Matra is commissioned by the Netherlands’ Ministry of Foreign Affairs and implemented by the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO). Herein the Netherlands partners with government organisations in countries that are (potential or) candidates for EU membership and Eastern Partnership countries. The aim of Matra is strengthening the effectiveness of government or semi-government institutions in carrying out their duties and responsibilities as well as fostering bilateral relations between the Netherlands and the target countries.

 

MATRA-Ukraine 2020-2024: Strengthening Ukraine's capacity to investigate and prosecute international crimes

The MATRA project ''Strengthening Ukraine’s Capacity to Investigate and Prosecute International Crimes" was a joint initiative of the T.M.C. Asser Instituut and Global Rights Compliance.  The project was designed to assist the newly created War Crimes Unit, improve the skills of the judiciary, and empower CSOs (civil society organizations), defenders, and victims’ representatives in Ukraine to more adequately investigate, prosecute, adjudicate, and monitor international crimes. This support was extremely timely, as Ukraine was preparing to ratify the Rome Statute of the ICC and suffered from a lack of capacity to investigate international crimes.

The project supported mechanisms to improve cooperation between different government agencies and improve dialogue between the government and civil society. Support from the general public was sought through public dialogue events organized with the support of Dutch and Ukrainian CSOs. Promoting networking events, contacts and exchange of ideas between different stakeholders helped the Ukrainian government, CSOs and the media to combat international crimes more effectively and facilitate law enforcement activities.

The project was funded by the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs under the MATRA (MAatschappelijke TRAnsformatie: social transformation) Programme and supported by the Netherlands Ministry of Justice and Security.

Project duration: 1 July 2020 - 30 June 2024.

For more information, go to the project website here