For a safe childhood: a new HELP course for judges and prosecutors has begun

On 3 June 2026, a presentation and the official launch of the HELP platform’s tutorial course, ‘Protecting Children from Sexual Exploitation and Sexual Violence’, took place in Kyiv. The course is designed to provide further training for judges and prosecutors handling criminal cases in which children are the victims. Particular emphasis was placed on responding to crimes against minors in the context of a full-scale war.

The course curriculum is based on the principles of the Lanzarote Convention (the Council of Europe Convention on the Protection of Children against Sexual Exploitation and Sexual Abuse), which Ukraine ratified in 2012, and will support the implementation of child-friendly legislation, particularly in a wartime context. The course consists of five interactive modules and will run throughout June and July 2026. Three certified national experts and trainers from the HELP platform will provide online facilitation during the course.

Representing the National School of Judges of Ukraine at the event was Tamara Zakrevska, Deputy Head of the Department for the Training of Teachers (Trainers), who coordinates distance learning courses at the National School of Judges, including the HELP courses.

In her speech, she emphasised that the HELP courses are one of the most effective and up-to-date tools for the professional development of lawyers. They combine European human rights standards, a practical focus and interactive teaching methods. Thanks to these courses, participants have the opportunity not only to deepen their knowledge of international standards and the case law of the European Court of Human Rights, but also to acquire practical skills in applying them in their professional practice. Of particular value is the tutorial-based learning format, which creates a positive environment for the professional exchange of experience, discussions and the joint search for solutions. This is precisely why the National School of Judges of Ukraine is actively incorporating HELP courses into the system of training and professional development for judges, integrating the best European practices into the national system of judicial education.

A representative of the National School of Judges of Ukraine also emphasised that the course’s subject matter is of particular importance today in the context of the war, when children remain one of the most vulnerable groups in society. In such circumstances, ensuring the proper protection of children’s rights requires judges, prosecutors and other legal professionals not only to have a thorough knowledge of the law, but also to understand international standards, modern approaches to working with children and the principles of child-friendly justice.

During the training, participants will work on issues relating to the classification of criminal offences against children, the protection of child victims, conducting interviews using the ‘Barnahus’ and ‘green room’ models, as well as the assessment of evidence and the use of children’s testimony in criminal proceedings.

Tamara Zakrevska also expressed her conviction that participation in the course would be an important step in every lawyer’s professional development, helping to strengthen professional competencies and improve the quality of justice in line with European standards.

During the presentation, participants discussed the practical challenges associated with the course’s subject matter and exchanged experiences. Representatives of the Council of Europe emphasised: “Establishing a justice system that does not cause secondary trauma to children, but effectively protects their rights, is a critically important step for Ukraine’s European integration.”

The training of trainers course is being delivered with the support of the Council of Europe’s projects ‘Protecting children’s rights and ensuring child-friendly justice in Ukraine’ and ‘HELP (Human Rights Education for Lawyers) for Ukraine, including during the war’, in partnership with the National School of Judges of Ukraine and the Training Centre for Prosecutors of Ukraine.