Good day. It is great to be here.
My name is Olena Ponomarenko. I am the head of the secretariat of the High Qualification Commission of Judges of Ukraine.
It's a body that oversees judicial appointments, specifically for those being appointed for the first time as well as those judges who want to transfer to a different court or to a different level of court. As you may know, a judicial appointment is a two-phase process in Ukraine. An initial appointment is for five years. Whenever there's a second appointment, it's for life. We also administer the second appointment for life.
Another function the commission performs is a disciplinary review whenever there is a complaint. Jointly with the National School of Judges of Ukraine, we are also responsible for providing training and professional development to judges.
Thank you.