Judicial reform must restore trust of people in court – President

Thursday, September 25, 2014 - 12:42 (EEST) Section: Latest news

President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko stresses importance of rebuilding of the judicial power, which would enjoy unquestioning trust of citizens.
In his speech at the 12th special Congress of Judges of Ukraine, as the presidential press service informs, the President stressed that today he presents a program of reforms “Strategy 2020,” which envisages realization of 60 reforms, among which the judicial reform occupies an outstanding place.
“I rely on you, that we with you, jointly with the public, with the newly elected parliament, and with my full support as the President, will manage to hold a new judicial reform, which will solve the key task – renew the trust of people in judges, will make so that even the party, which lost a process, will leave the [court] hall with proved justice,” the President said.
The head of state stressed: creation of the judicial system, which meets European standards, is his “mandatory priority.” He stressed that holding of the judicial reform is one of Ukraine’s obligations within the frames of the Association Agreement with the European Union. “First, from which any talk begins at any level is the judicial reform,” the President said. “First, from which we must begin are anticorruption steps. And we have to rely on honest and unbiased courts.”
The head of state emphasized on importance of realization of a principle of independence of judges. According to the President, it is inadmissible that Ukraine has such a great number of suits with the European Court of Human Rights.
The President called on the Congress of Judges to speed up completion of formation of the High Council of Justice and the High Qualification Commission of Judges.