Ukraine signs Council of Europe Convention on the Protection of the Profession of Lawyer: an important step towards European standards of justice

Ukraine has taken an important step towards strengthening the legal protection of lawyers by signing the Council of Europe Convention on the Protection of the Legal Profession. According to Denys Maslov, Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Legal Policy, the signing of this Convention is a significant step towards bringing the Ukrainian legal system closer to European standards.

At present, 27 countries have signed the Convention, but it will only enter into force if it is ratified by at least eight signatory states. At the same time, none of the signatories has yet ratified the document, and Ukraine still has a long way to go.

The Council of Europe Convention on the Protection of the Profession of Lawyer is the first international treaty aimed at strengthening the legal protection of lawyers. Its main purpose is to ensure the independence of the legal profession and to protect it from any unlawful interference, intervention, or persecution by public authorities or other persons. Particular attention is paid to protecting the rights of lawyers from physical attacks, threats, or intimidation, which is an important condition for the normal functioning of the legal system.

Lawyers play a crucial role in upholding the rule of law and ensuring access to justice for all citizens, especially those who have been victims of human rights violations. Their professional activities are essential not only for protecting the interests of their clients, but also for maintaining public confidence in the justice system as a whole. The more independent and secure the work of lawyers is, the higher the level of human rights protection in the state.

The Convention covers not only the rights of lawyers to perform their duties without hindrance, but also protects their professional associations. It guarantees freedom of expression for lawyers, the independence of professional organizations, and defines specific mechanisms for protecting lawyers in the event of threats to their activities. One of the key provisions is the requirement for states to ensure that lawyers can carry out their work without the threat of physical attacks or other forms of pressure.

The Convention also stipulates that states are obliged to conduct effective investigations in cases where a lawyer has been the victim of a crime related to their professional activities. It is important that the signatories to the Convention not only provide legal support to lawyers, but also create conditions for their professional development in a safe and stable environment.

The signing of this Convention is of particular importance for Ukraine, as our legal system continues to move towards European standards. It should be noted that today in Ukraine, lawyers often face various forms of pressure, from political persecution to threats from individuals or authorities. In this regard, accession to the Convention is an important step towards strengthening the independence of the legal profession in Ukraine and enhancing the protection of human rights.

The signing of the Council of Europe Convention on the Protection of the Legal Profession opens up new opportunities for the development of the rule of law in Ukraine. Although ratification of this document is still ahead, the very fact of its signing is a signal that the country is ready to integrate into international legal standards, which will contribute to the further strengthening of the legal system and the protection of citizens’ rights.