[New programme] Specialised Judicial Training Series for Ukrainian Courts, 2nd online edition, March-April 2025

This spring, T.M.C. Asser Institute, with support from the National School of Judges of Ukraine (NSJ), and the collaboration of the European Union Advisory Mission in Ukraine (EUAM), launched the 2nd edition of the ‘Specialised Judicial Training Series for Ukrainian Courts’, building on the experience of the 2024 edition.

The new training series was designed to engage not only Ukrainian judges, but also other vital actors in the court system, including legal clerks, assistants and others, reflecting that the fairness and effectiveness of the justice system depend on the coordinated efforts of all those working within it, and that capacity-building is most meaningful when it reflects shared responsibility.

The second edition, as the first, consisted of two components:

• six specialised weekly online training sessions;  
• two-day in-person Mock Trial.

The six online sessions ran from 5 March to 9 April 2025, covering the following topics:

• Attacks in the context of international crimes (distinction, proportionality, and precautions); 
• Adjudicating intentional attacks against protected persons and objects;
• OSINT and Open-Source Evidence in the Investigation and Adjudication of Prohibited Attacks as War Crimes;
• Case Study: OSINT Evidence in the Adjudication of Prohibited Attacks as War Crimes;
• Introduction: Understanding trauma and its impact on victims and witnesses;
• Trauma-informed judicial practices.

The programme provided judges with substantive insights into key aspects of international humanitarian law, particularly the principles of distinction, proportionality, and precaution, which are central in the adjudication of prohibited attacks as war crimes. It focused on the growing role and use of open-source intelligence (OSINT) and open-source digital evidence in such cases, along with trauma awareness and trauma-informed judicial practices, a difficult balancing act that must protect and support victims and witnesses, while also ensuring that defence rights are fully safeguarded.  

Participants found the combination of practical legal know-how and trauma-awareness-focused content particularly useful. Many emphasised that the sessions struck a good balance between legal depth and victim-centred approaches. Certificates of Completion (0.6 ECTS) were issued together with the NSJ to all those who successfully completed the online series. From these, 19 participants were selected for the in-person Mock Trial held in Kyiv, based on attendance requirements and completion of three assignments.

The Asser Institute, in close cooperation with its partners, remains committed to supporting the Ukrainian judiciary. Building on the achievements of the previous editions, the Institute will continue to strengthen judicial capacities and foster international collaboration. In this context, preparations are already underway for a third edition, which is scheduled to take place in 2026.

This Specialised Judicial Training Series for Ukrainian Courts, 2nd online edition, was led by T.M.C. Asser Institute’s - Junior Researcher, Gabriela Radu (g.radu@asser.nl).

[Project] Restoring Dignity and Justice in Ukraine
The training series has been organised as part of the ‘Restoring Dignity and Justice in Ukraine' consortium programme, focusing on advancing accountability for international crimes committed in Ukraine. The programme is funded by the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs and is implemented by the International Development Law Organisation (IDLO), in partnership with the T.M.C. Asser Instituut, the Centre for International Legal Cooperation (CILC), and the Netherlands Helsinki Committee (NHC).