Appropriate Communication Policies Can Counter Misinformation and Manipulation - Valentyna Danishevska

The Supreme Court hosted a meeting between the President of the Supreme Court Valentyna Danishevska and the President of the non-governmental organization "Ukraine-2050", President of the Ukrainian World Congress (2008-2018) Eugene Czolij. The Executive Director of the NGO "Ukraine-2050" Myron Naida, a member of the Board of Directors of this organization Roman Panchuk also took part in the meeting.

Eugene Czolij spoke about the main activities of the NGO "Ukraine-2050" and shared the main priorities of the work. These include upholding the rule of law, improving the administration of justice, and combating misinformation at the international level, which is extremely important given the Russian Federation's numerous attempts to present Ukraine in the most unfavorable light possible.

Valentyna Danishevska noted that in all these areas the goals of the NGO and the Supreme Court coincided. Misinformation and manipulative distortions of information about the activities of the judiciary lead to the formation of persistent negative stereotypes about courts and judges.

"Propaganda, misinformation and manipulation are tools of information warfare that can cause serious damage to Ukrainian society. This topic is also sensitive for the Supreme Court, whose activities often become the subject of various information distortions. That is why in modern conditions, along with the administration of justice, the main task of the Court is also a proper and effective communication policy," said the President of the Supreme Court.

The participants of the meeting also discussed issues of justice reform. Valentyna Danishevska said that judicial reform had begun immediately after the Revolution of Dignity, and in 2019 the reform had been "paused" due to the termination of the powers of the members of the High Qualification Commission of Judges (HQCJ). At present, the process of resuming the work of the HQCJ has begun. The President of the Supreme Court stressed the need to walk this path as quickly as possible. At the same time, she is convinced that "all participants in this process should bear the responsibility for the proper implementation of the reform and its effective course."