Integrating a gender perspective into justice: NSJU and the MARTA Center Association expand educational cooperation

On January 27, 2026, a meeting was held at the National School of Judges of Ukraine between Rector Mykola Onishchuk and representatives of the MARTA Association's project “Ukraine: Strengthening the Capacity and Support of Women and Children Affected by War.” The project is implemented with the support of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Latvia and aims to develop a victim-sensitive approach to justice.

The delegation included Iluta Lace, director of the Latvian Association “Marta Center,” Dita Lace, financial director, and Natalia Chudayeva, coordinator of Ukrainian projects and expert on combating gender-based violence, supporting victims, and working with trauma.

During the meeting, the parties summarized the results of cooperation in 2025 and discussed educational initiatives for the current year. A key focus was a two-stage training program for trainers from among the teaching staff of the National School of Judges, aimed at introducing an approach to judicial practice that is oriented toward the needs of victims of gender-based violence.

The first stage of training was successfully completed in September last year in Kyiv. The second stage is scheduled for April 2026 and will take the form of a study visit to Latvia. Twenty NSJU lecturers who completed the first stage of the program will take part in it.

Other joint initiatives this year include the testing at the end of January of a training program for the National School of Judges of Ukraine, developed based on the experience of the MARTA Center Association and best European practices, and taking into account the Ukrainian context.

The implementation of joint initiatives by the National School of Judges of Ukraine and the MARTA Center Association will contribute to strengthening a gender-sensitive approach in the judicial system and improving the quality of protection of victims' rights in the context of military challenges.

On behalf of the NSJU, the meeting was also attended by Victoria Semenyuk and Kateryna Hlushchenko, employees of the International Cooperation Department, as well as Yelyzaveta Kovtyuk, lecturer and coordinator of the Teacher Training Department.