Restorative Justice in Ukraine

Today, restorative justice is one of the key directions in the development of a humane and people-centered approach to justice. It focuses not only on responding to offenses but also on repairing harm, supporting victims, encouraging accountability, and restoring social relationships.

During this panel discussion, participants will explore the development of restorative justice in Ukraine, the implementation of the Restorative Justice Program for Juveniles, the role of the free legal aid system, interagency cooperation, and international experience in this field. Special attention will be given to the importance of restorative approaches for ensuring access to justice and their future prospects in Ukraine.

The session will also provide an opportunity to reflect on the evolution of restorative justice in Ukraine, assess achievements to date, and discuss the challenges and opportunities for its further development.

Event Information

Date: June 9, 2026

Time: 12:00–14:00 EEST (Kyiv, GMT+3)

Moderator

Iryna Fedorych - PhD in Law, mediator, trainer, member of the NGO Focus on Law, and Chair of the Board of the Association of Family Mediators of Ukraine.

Speakers

Alona Horova - Head of the Institute for Peace and Common Ground, group conflict mediator with more than 20 years of experience, expert in restorative justice and peacebuilding.

Mykola Sioma - Director of the Ukrainian Legal Aid Foundation, PhD, expert in human rights and equal access to justice.

Olena Kryvko - Human Rights Specialist at UNDP Ukraine, expert in the rule of law and access to justice.

Dr. Aarne Kinnunen (Finland) - Senior Advisor at the Ministry of Justice of Finland, Department of Criminal Policy and Criminal Justice, PhD, Associate Professor at the University of Eastern Finland.

Oksana Dekhtiaruk - Deputy Head of the Department for the Protection of Children's Interests and Combating Domestic Violence at the Office of the Prosecutor General of Ukraine.

Iryna Bondarenko - Coordination Center for Legal Aid Provision, Head of Alternative Dispute Resolution Implementation, mediator, and trainer.

Who Will Benefit from the Event?

The panel will be valuable for attorneys, mediators, professionals working within the free legal aid system, prosecutors, judges, law enforcement representatives, educators, researchers, and everyone interested in restorative justice, access to justice, and modern approaches to conflict resolution.

The event is organized by the Ukrainian Academy of Mediation in partnership with the European Commission for the Efficiency of Justice (CEPEJ) and with the financial support of the European Union within the framework of the EU Project "CONSENT".