The FAIR Justice Project (FAIR) is funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and has been working in Ukraine since October 2011. FAIR is designed to build on initiatives implemented by the USAID Ukraine Rule of Law Project (UROL) from 2006-2011.

In working with the Government of Ukraine and Ukrainian civil society, FAIRwill continue to support the development and implementation of key judicial reform legislation and improve judicial policies and procedures that promote a more effective, accountable and independent judiciary. It will further strengthen public trust and confidence through work with civil society organizations to enhance public and media awareness of, and involvement in, the judicial reform process. Furthermore, the project will provide opportunities to society and courts to engage each other to promote better public access to justice.

FAIR Justice Project focuses on four main objectives:

• Development of a legislative and regulatory framework for judicial reform that is compliant with European and international norms and supports judicial accountability and independence;
• Strengthening the accountability and transparency of key judicial institutions and operations;
• Strengthening the professionalism and effectiveness of the Ukrainian judiciary;
• Strengthening the role of civil society organizations as advocates for and monitors of judicial reform.

David M. Vaughn, Project Chief of Party, underlines that while continuing cooperation with Ukraine’s judicial authority started by UROL, FAIR has also implemented new initiatives on building independent, effective and transparent judiciary in Ukraine. “Quite a number of positive changes occurred since passing of the new Law on the Judiciary and Status of Judges in July 2010. There is no doubt that bringing the State Judicial Administration from the executive and fully into Judiciary, introduction of random case assignment in courts, establishing of the High Qualifications Commission of Judges as a national body responsible for judicial selection and discipline are worth noting, - he said. – Meanwhile, a number of challenges remain that need to be brought in line with international standards. Particularly our project is aimed at supporting the State Judicial Administration and Council of Judges of Ukraine in the development of a strategic plan for the judiciary, which will include implementation of automated case management in courts, designing of court performance evaluation standards, courts’ staff professional development as well as development of unified communications policy of  the judiciary and further implementation of the model of communications strategy for courts”.

David Michael Vaughn
USAID FAIR Justice Project
Chief of Party