Strengthening Regional Cooperation – EUAM Head of Operations visits Lviv
July 26, 2024
This week, Lynn Sheehan, the EUAM’s Head of Operations, visited Lviv to discuss the ongoing cooperation in the region and plan further steps under the new EUAM mandate for the next three years.
During the meeting with Ms Oksana Polna, the Head of the Lviv Regional Unit of the National School of Judges, they reviewed ongoing cooperation on initiatives such as trust-building in courts, addressing domestic violence, training speaker judges, and combating hate crime. They also discussed continued support aimed at enhancing the adherence to ethical standards in the judiciary.
In another key meeting, Lynn Sheehan met with Mr. Oleksandr Targoniy, the Acting Head of the Lviv Regional Prosecutor’s Office. The discussion focused on the FO Lviv strategic priorities for 2024-2027, particularly the continued support for Ukrainian prosecutors in tackling cross-border crime, smuggling as well as Trafficking in Human Beings (THB) and arms trafficking. The representatives of the Lviv Region Prosecutor’s Office expressed appreciation for the EUAM’s valuable contribution to enhancing prosecutor’s capacity and knowledge of the new methods of proper crime documentation and investigation.
EUAM is devoted to ensuring that sustainable and equitable defense mechanisms are in place during investigations and trials for those accused of international crimes. Understanding the ICC’s scrutiny of these proceedings remains of crucial importance. Lynn Sheehan, during the meeting with Ms Natalia Melian, the Deputy Head of the Western Directorate of the Free Legal Aid Centre, underscored the importance of these aspects as indicators of Ukraine’s commitment to the Rule of Law and Human Rights, crucial in light of its EU membership aspirations.
Lynn Sheehan also met with Taras Sozanski, the First Vice-Rector of Lviv State University MoIA. They outlined key areas for cooperation under the new mandate, focusing on countering THB. The University also presented its plan to establish a centre of excellence in advancing the research in forensic technology for e-evidence.
”The art of coordination is in the ability to incorporate the valuable input from the real-life field experiences in the wider strategic framework and decisions made on the central level” – said Lynn Sheehan.
