
On 3-5 October 2015, the first part of the training for over fifty lawyers-trainers/moderators on the exchange of experience between lawyers who provide free secondary legal aid was held in Kyiv. The topic of the training was “Special defense procedures in criminal proceedings Involving crimes against national security and military crimes. Defense in criminal proceedings involving illicit traffic in drugs. Defense procedures during covert investigative (search) actions”.
The training was organized by the Coordination Center for Legal Aid Provision jointly with the Non-Governmental Organization “All-Ukrainian Association of Lawyers Providing Free Legal Aid” with the support of the QALA Project and the U.S.Embassy in Ukraine.
Three-day training program was divided into four main thematic sections: Special defense procedures in criminal proceedings involving crimes against national security, the provision of recruitment and mobilization, military crimes; the actions of the defender in criminal proceedings on the illicit trafficking of drugs, psychotropic substances, their analogues or precursors; providing effective defence during the conduct of covert investigative (search) actions; training on trainer capacity building.
The event began with welcoming speeches of guests, namely, those of Vitalii Baiev, Deputy Director of the Coordination Center for Legal Aid Provision, Olena Kustova, Program Coordinator/Legal Advisor, Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs of the U.S. Embassy in Ukraine, Ivanna Ibragimova, Team Leader of the Canadian-Ukrainian QALA Project and Viktoriia Mitko, Head of the All-Ukrainian NGO “All-Ukrainian Association of Lawyers Providing Legal Aid”, Head of the Department for ensuring the quality of free legal aid and further professional training of lawyers.
After the official part, the participants of the training started two-day training process, during which they considered various problematic issues according to thematic sections of the program and took part in the moderated discussions.
The third day of training was entirely devoted to a training on trainer skills, in particular the development of trainer’s skills of efficient communication and interaction with the audience, as well as exchange of experience of conducting trainings.
“Such training activities have several objectives“, said Viktoriia Mitko. “Firstly, it is an opportunity to discuss really important and relevant issues for advocacy, share thoughts, impressions, and practical experience. Secondly, the participants of the training receive skills of conducting trainings, which further help them in the preparation of their own training programs for lawyers working in the LA system. When planning the training, we tried to select the specialists who would cover the topic from different angles and provide material for analysis and work thereon“.
The second part of training will be held on 18-19 October. It will be followed by a regular circle of cascade trainings held in November in the regions on the set topics for all lawyers providing free secondary legal aid.