Juvenile Justice Reform Project

This project supports Ukraine’s efforts to develop and deliver an effective youth justice system which incorporates international standards, and which effectively protects youth and supports their rehabilitation and reintegration into their communities.

The project’s ultimate outcome is a more effective and responsive juvenile justice system in Ukraine – one which is in line with international standards. The project is implemented using a capacity building approach, and provides learning opportunities and technical assistance for:
•  collaborative policy and legislation development at the national level;
•  increased knowledge and capacity of public institutions and community actors involved in youth justice; and
•  strengthened delivery of effective and gender-responsive juvenile justice programs, practices and services that support rehabilitation and reintegration of young persons who come into conflict with the law. 

The project is structured around three main components:

National Focus: This component aims to develop a legislative and policy framework to support a criminal justice system for minors.

Judiciary and Other Stakeholders Capacity Building: This component aims to strengthen the capacity of courts and other juvenile justice agencies to apply effective and responsive approaches and best practices to support rehabilitation and prevention of future offences, while upholding the rights of children and youth in conflict with the law.

Regional Focus: This component is creating models of improved juvenile justice approaches in two pilot locations in Ukraine, in order to better understand and demonstrate what works in Ukraine and to inform the other components of the project.

Project activities include other partners and stakeholders from the justice system, as well as civil society, with the aim of promoting effective cooperation between all stakeholders.