OBSERVARE

Universidade Autónoma de Lisboa

e-ISSN: 1647-7251

VOL. 16, Nº. 2, TD3

Thematic Dossier

Rule of Law, Human Rights, and Institutional

Transformation in Times of Global and National Challenges

March 2026

EDITORIAL

YAROSLAV KUSHNIR, as guest coordinator

yarkushnir@ukr.net

Associate Professor at the Department of Administrative Activity, Faculty of Law Enforcement,

Bohdan Khmelnytskyi National Academy of the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine,

Khmelnytskyi (Ukraine). He is an Associate Professor at the Department of Administrative

Activity, Faculty of Law Enforcement, Bohdan Khmelnytskyi National Academy of the State Border

Guard Service of Ukraine. His academic and professional interests focus on administrative law,

public administration, law enforcement practices, and the legal regulation of border security

activities. He is actively engaged in teaching, research, and the training of law enforcement

professionals, contributing to the development of modern approaches to public safety and state

border protection. http://orcid.org/0000-0002-8519-5331

SVITLANA LITOVKA-DEMENINA

Svitlana_Litovka-Demenina@outlook.com

PhD in Pedagogical Sciences, Associate Professor, Department of International Relations and

Organization of Tourism Activity, Interregional Academy of Personnel Management (Ukraine). Her

expertise centers on information systems and marketing strategies within the tourism and hotel-

restaurant industries. She investigates the use of digital tools – such as context advertising,

content marketing, and social media targeting – to enhance personalized customer engagement

and industry competitiveness. Additionally, she studies processes of marketing research in

tourism, emphasizing market analysis, infrastructure development, and systematic data

collection to inform strategic decisions. http://orcid.org/0000-0002-8341-9872

OLENA STRILIUK

olenastriliuk@gmail.com

PhD in History, Associate Professor, Department of World History and International Relations, O.

M. Lazarevsky Educational and Research Institute of History, Social Sciences and Humanities, T.

H. Shevchenko National University "Chernihiv Colehium" (Ukraine). Her academic expertise lies in

world history, international relations, cultural diplomacy, and historical memory studies. She

actively researches global political processes, the role of history in shaping national identities,

and international cooperation in education and culture. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5278-5263

IRYNA LEHAN

university_ua@i.ua

Doctor of Law, Associate Professor at the Department of Law and Law Enforcement, Faculty of

National Security, Law and International Relations, Zhytomyr Polytechnic State University

(Ukraine). She holds the degree of Doctor of Law and also a Candidate of Economic Sciences, and

has completed master’s degrees in both accounting & audit and law. Iryna Lehan is the author

and co-author of over 60 scientific and educational publications, with research interests focused

on international cooperation in preventing and combating transnational crime, as well as criminal

law, criminology, and criminal-executive prevention of crime. She has participated in international

academic internships in universities in Slovakia and Poland and contributes actively to academic

life at her university. https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2933-4971

ZHANNA VASYLIEVA-SHALAMOVA

academiq@ukr.net

PhD in Law, Associate Professor at the Department of Civil Procedure, Educational and Scientific

Institute of Law, Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv (Ukraine). She holds a PhD in Law

and specializes in civil procedural law with scholarly interests in the theory and practice of civil

JANUS.NET, e-journal of International Relations

e-ISSN: 1647-7251

VOL. 16, Nº. 2, TD3

Thematic Dossier - Portugal and China in International Relations: Historical Legacies

and Contemporary Dynamics

March 2026, pp. 3-7

Editorial. Rule of Law, Human Rights, and Institutional

Transformation in Times of Global and National Challenges

Yaroslav Kushnir, Svitlana Litovka-Demenina, Olena Striliuk, Iryna Lehan,

Zhanna Vasylieva-Shalamova, Kateryna Voitenko

justice, and is actively involved in academic research and teaching at one of Ukraine’s leading law

faculties and has contributed to scientific publications and conferences in her field.

https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3481-788X

KATERYNA VOITENKO

eeusci_kvoitko@ukr.net

Master in Law, Zhytomyr Polytechnic State University (Ukraine). She has been engaged in

publicistic and science communication activities, supporting Ukrainian researchers in

disseminating the results of their studies in international academic journals since 2017. She has

experience in editorial assistance, and coordinating cooperation with foreign publishers. She is

particularly interested in promoting the global visibility and impact of Ukrainian scholarship

through effective communication and international collaboration

How to cite this article

Kushnir, Yaroslav, Litovka-Demenina, Svitlana, Striliuk, Olena, Lehan, Iryna, Vasylieva-

Shalamova, Zhanna & Voitenko, Kateryna (2026). Editorial - Rule of Law, Human Rights, and

Institutional Transformation in Times of Global and National Challenges. Janus.net, e-journal of

international relations. Thematic Dossier - Portugal and China in International Relations: Historical

Legacies and Contemporary Dynamics, VOL. 16, Nº. 2, TD3, March 2026, pp. 3-7.

https://doi.org/10.26619/1647-7251.DT0226.ED

JANUS.NET, e-journal of International Relations

e-ISSN: 1647-7251

VOL. 16, Nº. 2, TD3

Thematic Dossier - Portugal and China in International Relations: Historical Legacies

and Contemporary Dynamics

March 2026, pp. 3-7

Editorial. Rule of Law, Human Rights, and Institutional

Transformation in Times of Global and National Challenges

Yaroslav Kushnir, Svitlana Litovka-Demenina, Olena Striliuk, Iryna Lehan,

Zhanna Vasylieva-Shalamova, Kateryna Voitenko

RULE OF LAW, HUMAN RIGHTS, AND INSTITUTIONAL

TRANSFORMATION IN TIMES OF GLOBAL AND NATIONAL

CHALLENGES

YAROSLAV KUSHNIR

SVITLANA LITOVKA-DEMENINA

OLENA STRILIUK

IRYNA LEHAN

ZHANNA VASYLIEVA-SHALAMOVA

KATERYNA VOITENKO

The contemporary world is experiencing a convergence of global and national crises that

profoundly test the resilience of legal systems, democratic institutions, and the very

foundations of the rule of law. Armed conflicts, technological disruption, climate change,

pandemics, economic instability, and rapid digitalization have generated unprecedented

challenges for states and societies alike. In this context, the rule of law and human rights

are no longer abstract normative ideals but practical benchmarks for institutional

sustainability, social trust, and political legitimacy. This special issue of JANUS.NET e-

journal of International Relations is devoted to examining how legal systems respond,

adapt, and transform under conditions of heightened stress, uncertainty, and structural

change.

The central premise of this special issue is that the rule of law, human rights protection,

and institutional transformation are inseparable processes, particularly in times of crisis.

Emergency governance, martial law, digital governance, environmental degradation, and

armed conflict often necessitate extraordinary measures. However, without adequate

legal safeguards, transparency, accountability, and proportionality, such measures risk

eroding democratic institutions and undermining public trust. The contributions gathered

here explore these tensions through doctrinal analysis, comparative perspectives,

JANUS.NET, e-journal of International Relations

e-ISSN: 1647-7251

VOL. 16, Nº. 2, TD3

Thematic Dossier - Portugal and China in International Relations: Historical Legacies

and Contemporary Dynamics

March 2026, pp. 3-7

Editorial. Rule of Law, Human Rights, and Institutional

Transformation in Times of Global and National Challenges

Yaroslav Kushnir, Svitlana Litovka-Demenina, Olena Striliuk, Iryna Lehan,

Zhanna Vasylieva-Shalamova, Kateryna Voitenko

empirical data, and normative reflection, offering a multidimensional understanding of

legal transformation in both national and international contexts.

A significant part of this issue focuses on the impact of war and emergency governance

on constitutional order and fundamental rights, with particular attention to the Ukrainian

experience as a paradigmatic case. The article “The Theoretical Foundations and Practical

Implementation of the Priority of the Rule of Law in Times of War” provides a comparative

and empirical assessment of how democratic states preserve legal stability under martial

law. It demonstrates that judicial independence, parliamentary oversight, and

proportionality of restrictions are decisive factors in preventing democratic backsliding.

Complementing this analysis, “International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights During

the War in Ukraine” addresses the systemic violations of international humanitarian law

and underscores the urgent need for updated accountability mechanisms, including the

establishment of a Special Tribunal for the crime of aggression.

The constitutional dimension of crisis governance is further explored in “Constitutional

Control in Eastern European Countries: Models, Effectiveness and Development

Prospects”, which offers a rigorous comparative analysis of constitutional courts as

guardians of democratic order. By identifying patterns of political capture and institutional

resilience, the article highlights constitutional justice as a key safeguard against the

erosion of the rule of law. Historical depth is added by “Constitutional Evolution of

Democracy: A Comparative Analysis of European and Ukrainian Legal Frameworks (18th–

20th Centuries)”, which situates contemporary constitutional challenges within the

broader tradition of European democratic thought and Ukrainian constitutionalism.

Another major thematic cluster addresses institutional reform and public trust,

particularly within the justice system. The article “Judicial Reform as a Factor in

Increasing Public Trust in Justice” demonstrates that digitalization, procedural efficiency,

and institutional independence are essential but insufficient without adequate funding

and кадрова стабільність. Closely related, “The Role of Mediation in the Criminal Justice

System” explores alternative dispute resolution as a tool for enhancing efficiency and

fairness, revealing institutional gaps that limit its effectiveness in transitional legal

systems. Together, these studies emphasize that institutional reform must be systemic,

data-driven, and grounded in professional integrity.

The special issue also engages with the protection of individual rights across diverse

branches of law, reflecting the expanding scope of human rights in contemporary legal

systems. Family law, criminal procedure, labor law, intellectual property, and data

protection are examined not as isolated domains, but as interconnected fields where

human dignity, access to justice, and legal certainty are at stake. Articles such as “Applied

Dimensions of the Implementation of Family Law Rights” and “Theoretical and Applied

Aspects of Criminal Law and Procedural Ensuring the Right to Defense” reveal how

procedural inefficiencies, resource asymmetries, and legislative gaps directly affect the

realization of fundamental rights. The labor law study on flexible and remote employment

highlights emerging social risks in the digital economy, while the analysis of personal

data sovereignty underscores the growing tension between technological innovation and

privacy protection.

JANUS.NET, e-journal of International Relations

e-ISSN: 1647-7251

VOL. 16, Nº. 2, TD3

Thematic Dossier - Portugal and China in International Relations: Historical Legacies

and Contemporary Dynamics

March 2026, pp. 3-7

Editorial. Rule of Law, Human Rights, and Institutional

Transformation in Times of Global and National Challenges

Yaroslav Kushnir, Svitlana Litovka-Demenina, Olena Striliuk, Iryna Lehan,

Zhanna Vasylieva-Shalamova, Kateryna Voitenko

A forward-looking dimension of the issue is provided by contributions addressing

digitalization and artificial intelligence. “The Algorithmic Rule of Law: Institutionalizing

Accountability and Human Oversight in AI-Driven Legal Systems” proposes a conceptual

framework for integrating AI into legal decision-making without sacrificing accountability,

explainability, and human control. This article resonates with broader debates on fourth-

generation human rights and digital autonomy explored in “The Evolution of the Doctrine

of Freedoms”, which calls for normative consolidation of emerging digital and cognitive

rights at both national and international levels.

Environmental protection and sustainable development constitute another critical axis of

this special issue. Articles on environmental liability, administrative responsibility for

environmental offences, bioenergy governance, and critical infrastructure protection

reflect the growing recognition that environmental security is inseparable from national

security and human rights. In particular, “The Liability for Environmental Damage in the

Global Climate Crisis” situates post-war reconstruction within the framework of

environmental justice and “green reconstruction,” emphasizing the need for integrated

international and national legal responses.

The international dimension of institutional transformation is further enriched by analyses

of European legal integration, UN collective security, and international cooperation in

forensic psychology. These contributions demonstrate that institutional crises at the

international level – such as the paralysis of the UN Security Council – have direct

implications for national legal systems and the protection of human rights. The erosion

of collective security mechanisms not only weakens international law but also normalizes

impunity, making domestic rule-of-law safeguards even more critical.

Taken together, the articles in this special issue offer a comprehensive and

interdisciplinary exploration of how legal systems confront global and national challenges.

They reveal that resilience is not achieved through the suspension of law, but through its

adaptation – guided by constitutionalism, human rights, and institutional accountability.

The diversity of topics and methodologies reflects the complexity of contemporary legal

transformation and underscores the need for dialogue between theory and practice,

national and international law, tradition and innovation.

This special issue aims to contribute not only to academic debate but also to policy-

making and institutional reform. By identifying structural weaknesses, comparative

lessons, and normative pathways, it seeks to support the development of legal systems

capable of withstanding crisis without sacrificing democratic values. In times when the

rule of law is most vulnerable, rigorous scholarship becomes an essential form of

institutional defence.