By Olga Gaponenco, Programme Officer
From 8 to 10 December 2025, the Association of Legal Clinics of Ukraine (ALCU), together with the Raoul Wallenberg Institute of Human Rights and Humanitarian Law (RWI), Ukrainian Helsinki Human Rights Union (UHHRU) and the State University of Trade and Economics, held the Second Vasyl Ovsiienko Debate Tournament in Kyiv. Sixteen student teams competed in a British Parliamentary–style debate on the theme “Human Rights in the Context of Ukraine’s European Integration.” The event strengthened participants’ argumentation and analytical skills while deepening their understanding of human rights standards.
Why it matters
The debate tournament responds to a growing need for practice-oriented human rights education in Ukraine, especially as the country advances on its path toward EU membership. Legal clinic students – future lawyers and public servants – require strong analytical, communication, and rights-based reasoning skills to help shape institutions grounded in dignity, justice, and accountability.
The tournament directly contributes to RWI’s Human Rights Infrastructure for Ukraine (HRIU) Programme by empowering academic institutions and legal clinics to deliver practical, high-quality human rights education. It supports the development of a new generation of legal professionals capable of upholding human rights protections and contributing to Ukraine’s democratic transformation.
“This tournament is a space for developing critical thinking, honest debate, and the skills needed to build strong institutions and protect vulnerable groups,” noted Halyna Kokhan, Programme Officer at the RWI, who also served as a judge.
Key Highlights
- 27 applications received from legal clinics across Ukraine; 16 teams (32 students) selected to compete.
- Tournament held in British Parliamentary format with four preliminary rounds, semifinals, and a final.
- Winning team: Verum, Legal Clinic of Lutsk National Technical University.
- Three-day programme included trainings, mock rounds, expert discussions, and a UHHRU dialogue on transitional justice.
- Co-organised by ALCU, UHHRU, and the State University of Trade and Economics, with RWI participating as programme partner.
Key reflections from partners and participants:
- Yuliia Lomzhets, Chairwoman of ALCU:
“These are not soft skills – they are core skills. The debate format helps future lawyers learn to defend their positions with reasoned arguments without resorting to non-legal approaches.”
- Oleksandr Pavlichenko, Executive Director of UHHRU:
“We honor the memory of Vasyl Ovsiienko and all Ukrainian dissidents. By participating in this tournament, students are becoming part of a tradition of courage and legal integrity.”
- Halyna Kokhan, RWI Programme Manager:
“To speak about human rights is to speak about humanity in action. Human rights live only where there is a willingness to fight for every person.”
Follow-Up and Impact Pathways
The Debate Tournament forms part of a broader effort to strengthen the institutional capacity of Ukrainian legal clinics to provide legal aid and deliver practice-based human rights education. Outcomes will be reinforced through future trainings, peer exchanges, and collaborative academic activities under the HRIU Programme.
RWI and ALCU will continue monitoring participant feedback and integrating debate-based methods into legal clinic curricula, helping to sustain a culture of rights-based reasoning among emerging legal professionals.
Funders and Acknowledgments
This initiative is implemented under the RWI’s Human Rights Infrastructure for Ukraine (HRIU) Programme (2025–2027), funded by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida). RWI expresses gratitude to ALCU, UHHRU, and the State University of Trade and Economics for their partnership and commitment to strengthening human rights education in Ukraine.
To learn more about RWI’s work in Ukraine: https://rwi.lu.se/ukraine/
