Ukraine has signed the Council of Europe Convention on the Protection of the Profession of Lawyer. On behalf of Ukraine, the document was signed by the Permanent Representative of Ukraine to the Council of Europe, Mykola Tochytskyi, authorized by the President of Ukraine. 

The Convention is the first international legally binding instrument that establishes comprehensive guarantees for the independent practice of lawyers. It provides for the protection of lawyers from pressure, persecution or interference in their professional activities, ensures the confidentiality of communication between lawyer and client, and safeguards legal professional privilege. 

The document also obliges states to ensure effective investigations into cases of threats, attacks or obstruction of lawyers’ activities, and establishes an international monitoring mechanism for the implementation of these obligations. 

For Ukraine, this entails further strengthening of guarantees for the activities of lawyers representing the interests of citizens in courts and human rights mechanisms, as well as continued enhancement of human rights protection standards and the rule of law in line with the practices of the Council of Europe. 

The signing of the Convention reaffirms Ukraine’s commitment to strengthening the rule of law, the independence of the legal profession, and ensuring effective access to justice. Proper protection of lawyers is a key prerequisite for the functioning of a democratic state governed by the rule of law and an essential guarantee of every individual’s right to a fair trial and legal assistance. 

This step is important for further aligning Ukraine’s legal system with the high standards of the Council of Europe in the field of guarantees for the legal profession and the protection of its independence. 

Ukraine will continue to actively support the efforts of the Council of Europe aimed at strengthening democracy, human rights and the rule of law across the European continent.