The pilot mentorship programme for Ukrainian judges, prosecutors, and defence lawyers working on war crimes cases is now underway. Over the past three weeks, we have held initial meetings with three selected participants — a judge, a prosecutor, and a defence lawyer — together with the team of the International Bar Association (IBA) and international mentors involved in the programme, to agree on the format of interaction and set up effective communication.

The programme involves written work on real cases, discussions of complex legal issues, and thematic online meetings. A personalised approach, practical value, and full confidentiality are at the core of this initiative.

We are grateful to the IBA for their reliable partnership and valuable support, and to the international experts for their willingness to share their knowledge and experience in international humanitarian and criminal law.

This pilot format marks the first step toward building a sustainable platform for supporting Ukrainian legal professionals working in an extremely challenging context. We can already see how much such mentorship is needed — and we are working to ensure its continuation and expansion.