Ukraine’s lawyers to benefit from expertise of international lawyers

As further support of Ukraine’s legal profession, the International Bar Association (IBA) and the Ukrainian National Bar Association (UNBA), supported by the UNBA’s Higher School of Advocacy, will deliver a legal training session covering the topic of international criminal law. The training will take place online on Thursday 28 July at 17:00 Kyiv | 15:00 London | 10:00 New York and will be conducted in English with simultaneous Ukrainian translation. This joint seminar is the second in a series, following the first held last week on the subject of defence.

Registration for the 28 July seminar is now closed but will be live-streamed on YouTube at: www.youtube.com/watch?v=3n_Vyy_44MA

IBA President Sternford Moyo commented: ‘The IBA is proud to collaborate with the UNBA for the delivery of this second seminar. As with defence, international criminal law is a complex topic, and it is important that the nuances surrounding it are fully understood. Preserving the rule of law, and promoting security, stability and peace are the high ideals for which we strive. Undoubtedly, the insights and knowledge gained from the legal professionals amassed to deliver the training will contribute to the upholding of principles for a better world.’

UNBA Vice President Dr Valentyn Gvozdiy said: ‘We are delighted to be partnering once again with the International Bar Association on another training seminar. It is vital that Ukrainian lawyers acting for clients in trials of a transnational nature have a clear understanding of law as it applies outside of their own jurisdiction. As the global voice of the legal profession, the IBA provides that external expertise which is invaluable for this seminar focused on international criminal law.’

Moderator

• Dr Mark Ellis, Executive Director, International Bar Association, London

Speakers (in alphabetical order)

• Sareta Ashraph, Barrister, Garden Court Chambers, London; Visiting Fellow, Oxford Institute for Ethics, Law and Armed Conflict
• ​​​​​​​Linda Carter, Professor of Law, McGeorge School of Law, Sacramento, California; former Legal Researcher, International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda
• Leila Nadya Sadat, Special Advisor on Crimes Against Humanity to the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court; Professor of International Law, Washington University School of Law, St. Louis
• William Schabas, Professor of International Law at Middlesex University, London
• Michael P. Scharf, Dean, Case Western Reserve University School of Law, Cleveland; President-Elect, American Branch, International Law Association
• David Tolbert, Registrar, Special Tribunal for Lebanon, The Hague; Former President of the International Center for Transitional Justice

The IBA-UNBA seminar will provide an overview of the basic tenets of international criminal law as it relates to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. An insight into the fundamental aspects of international criminal law, including the core crimes of genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes and the crime of aggression, will also be explored in this second session from the legal organisations. Other issues to be covered are: the history of international criminal law from Nuremberg to the International Criminal Court (ICC); the concept of individual responsibility; the key role of the ICC; jurisdictional issues; the principles of complementarity and universal jurisdiction; individual responsibility; and joint-enterprise/command responsibility.

IBA Executive Director Dr Mark Ellis commented: ‘The topic of international criminal law is a natural successive subject to defence, which was the focus of the first IBA-UNBA training session. A full comprehension of the fundamental aspects of international criminal law as it relates to the current conflict in Ukraine, is key to ensuring justice prevails and fair trial standards are met. Our eminent speakers have a wealth of experience in international criminal tribunals. Ukraine’s lawyers will find their expertise exceptionally valuable.’

ENDS