With the world’s eyes on Ukraine, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) stands ready to support the country’s justice system post-war. From 3-7 February 2025 senior figures from the organization undertook a series of strategic dialogue consultations in Kyiv, bringing together government counterparts, civil society organizations and international partners to lay the groundwork for a secure, modern and rights-respecting future for Ukraine’s courts, prisons and probation service.
Every part of the justice system in Ukraine is under strain. Judges and law enforcement officials are grappling with overwhelming caseloads while also contending with damaged institutional infrastructure, including court buildings. These challenges are further exacerbated by legal delays and violations of procedural rights, which undermine the justice system’s ability to function effectively. Meanwhile, rising incidents of gender-based violence against women and threats to children’s safety add to the growing concerns over public security.
The country’s penitentiary system has also been severely affected by conflict. Of the 91 prisons in Ukraine, seven have been under occupation since February 2022; two completely destroyed; and 12 others have suffered extensive damage. Prisons face challenges in providing basic services and supplies, putting at risk the human rights of prisoners. In some areas prisoners and prison staff are in jeopardy due to proximity to the battlefield. Compounding these acute issues are ongoing institutional challenges including lack of staff training, out-of-date systems and corruption.
High levels of recidivism, social fragmentation and economic impacts are just some of the broader societal consequences of an underperforming justice system. In an already-fragile setting, these issues become more pressing.
Addressing these challenges requires coordinated, targeted interventions to modernize Ukraine’s justice system and align it with international standards. As attention turns to the future, UNODC is well-placed to support the country’s justice system to address immediate concerns, and to continue its reform efforts.
Since April 2024 the UNODC Office in Ukraine has partnered with the Ministry of Justice and the State Penitentiary Service to implement a successful prison and penal reform programme, Penitentiary Assistance in response to the Armed Conflict and Emergency Needs in Ukraine (PACE.UA) that is funded by Germany. The programme aims to enhance the effectiveness of the penal system and ensure human rights compliance, and to strengthen the crisis preparedness and response capacity of the prison system to prevent and mitigate the impact of ongoing and potential future disruptions. A key part of this is aligning prison operations with international and European standards.
PACE.UA provides targeted training for penitentiary staff, integrates promising practices into prison operations, and facilitates infrastructure upgrades to improve detention conditions. To date more than 7,000 prison officers have completed UNODC’s e-learning course on the United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners – the Nelson Mandela Rules – which has been translated into Ukrainian and included in mandatory training for all officers.
In addition, the programme has enhanced institutional capacity to develop rehabilitation and social reintegration programs; supported a coordinated approach to prevention of torture and ill-treatment in prisons in Ukraine; and facilitated cooperation with external stakeholders, including civil society organizations. It has also enabled infrastructure improvements, refurbishing three detention facilities and enhancing the IT, communications and transportation capacities of the State Penitentiary Service. UNODC supports more than 50 countries worldwide with their prison and penal reform efforts and Ukraine’s authorities have benefitted from this network, developing partnerships with prison services in other countries to enable learning and collaboration.
PACE.UA serves as a strong platform for the expansion of cooperation between Ukraine and UNODC and the development of new initiatives aimed at further enhancing the resilience and effectiveness of Ukraine’s criminal justice system.
Building on the progress made through PACE.UA, the recent high-level consultations in Kyiv offered the opportunity for Ukraine’s authorities to outline concrete proposals for future collaboration. The consultations were led by Harsheth Virk, Head of the UNODC Programme Office for Ukraine, and Aimée Comrie, Chief of the Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Section. Participating Ukrainian institutions included the Ministry of Justice, the National Police, the State Judiciary Administration, Office of the Prosecutor General, the State Bureau of Investigations, the Probation Centre and the National School of Judges.
Also, in attendance were leading international organizations including the Danish Institute Against Torture (DIGNITY), the European Prison Litigation Network, the Ukrainian Helsinki Human Rights Union, as well as national civil society organizations, who joined a roundtable discussion titled ‘Strengthening Justice Reforms and Human Rights Protections: Collaborative Approaches with Civil Society in Ukraine’. The discussion covered issues ranging prison reform to torture, gender-based violence and access to justice at national and local levels.
Continuing international support will be vital in supporting Ukraine’s justice system. The mission included meetings with representatives of international partners including Belgium, Canada, the European Union, Germany, Italy, Japan, Norway and the United Kingdom. Speaking following the consultations Harsheth Virk commented, “The commitment of national partners and their clear vision to strengthen justice institutions provides an excellent basis to enhance our ongoing assistance and respond to evolving priorities.”
The consultations identified several key areas for cooperation, including:
“These consultations have established a strong foundation for enhanced technical cooperation in key areas of the criminal justice system,” said Aimée Comrie, Chief of the Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Section.
This strong commitment to ongoing collaboration has been echoed by Ukrainian partners. “Despite these exceptionally difficult conditions, we remain steadfast in our pursuit of positive change. We highly value our international partners and look forward to continued collaboration,” said Mr. Yevhen Pikalov, Deputy Minister of Justice of Ukraine.
As Ukraine looks ahead to rebuilding the country post-conflict, a secure, modern and rights-respecting justice system is an essential element of its foundations. UNODC stands ready to work with national and international partners to make this a reality.
The consultations were led by Harsheth Virk, Head of the UNODC Programme Office for Ukraine, and Aimée Comrie, Chief of the Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Section. Participating Ukrainian institutions included the Ministry of Justice, the National Police, the State Judiciary Administration, Office of the Prosecutor General, the State Bureau of Investigations, the Probation Centre and the National School of Judges.
Crime prevention and criminal justice strategies must be gender responsive, human rights-compliant and respect the rule of law.
As the guardian of the United Nations standards and norms in crime prevention and criminal justice, UNODC through its Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Section (Division for Treaty Affairs) aims to help reduce crime, to ensure the operation of fair, effective, inclusive, transparent and accountable criminal justice institutions, and to promote equal access to justice for all.
To get in touch: e-mail: justice@unodc.org
