Dear friends, colleagues, partners, and fellow legal professionals,

It is my honor to congratulate you on the 22nd anniversary of the Ukrainian Bar Association!

Over the years, UBA has grown to become the leading voice of the legal community, earning recognition both in Ukraine and beyond. None of our achievements would have been possible without your unwavering support, active participation, and commitment to the values we hold dear.

On this special day, I would like to extend my deepest gratitude to the Armed Forces of Ukraine, who courageously defend our nation, and to all the lawyers who are serving on the frontlines. Thanks to your bravery, we can continue our mission of strengthening the rule of law and developing our legal system.

This week, as the world celebrates Thanksgiving, I want to take a moment to thank every member of our community for your professionalism, integrity, responsibility, and the years of collaboration. Your dedication and commitment to the values of UBA make all the difference.

The UBA remains steadfast in its dedication to core principles:

• safeguarding the rule of law;
• promoting the legal profession;
• defending human rights and the professional rights of lawyers;
• combating Russian aggression against Ukraine.

Over the past 22 years, our community has achieved incredible milestones, found innovative solutions, and worked tirelessly in the pursuit of justice and equity. This year, we can take particular pride in a range of impactful projects, including:

• the second phase of trial monitoring in war crimes cases in Ukraine;
• presenting the results of the project “Supporting the Reform of the Classificatory and Developing Standards for the Legal Profession”;
• hosting the First Investment Forum, which welcomed top investment institutions, businesses, and representatives from 11 foreign embassies;
• releasing the IBA report on gender disparity in the Ukrainian legal profession in Ukraine;
• launching the “Lawyers at War” initiative to unite the legal community and provide systemic support to colleagues defending Ukraine on the battlefield.

But we are not resting on our laurels. The UBA is focused on several strategic directions:

• strengthening the rule of law in Ukraine, including reforms in the legal profession, fighting corruption, prosecuting war crimes, and advancing transitional justice;
• promoting ethical conduct and practices in the legal market;
• empowering students and young professionals with valuable skills and knowledge, while encouraging their active involvement in the UBA community.

We continue to work closely with international partners, expand our educational programs, host influential events, and implement meaningful charitable initiatives.

As we look ahead, many challenges await us. But together, as one united team, we can rise to meet them and achieve even greater success.

22 years strong! We are and will remain the most powerful voice of Ukraine’s legal community!

#Together_Our_Voice_Is_Stronger

Sincerely,

Mykola Stetsenko

President of the Ukrainian Bar Association