Nelson Mandela World Human Rights Moot Court Competition 2023 for Law Students Worldwide

You are cordially invited to participate in the 15th Nelson Mandela World Human Rights Moot Court Competition, due to be held in Palais des Nations, in Geneva, Switzerland. 

Application Deadline: 27th April 2023

Eligible Countries: All

To be taken at (country): Palais des Nations, in Geneva, Switzerland

About the Award:  The Nelson Mandela World Human Rights Moot Court Competition is an international human rights law moot court competition.

Participation in the Competition is open to students from all universities in the world. The Competition involves a written phase after which teams are selected for the oral phase. Teams argue a hypothetical case on issues of international human rights law, as if they were before a hypothetical world Human Rights Court, on the basis of the International Bill of Human Rights and other applicable (such as regional) human rights instruments.

The 2020 Nelson Mandela World Human Rights Moot Court Competition will include a one-day event, designed to expose students to the work of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights as well as the Human Rights Council. This will involve personal interaction with senior staff members of both institutions who are involved key activities and processes. This practical exercise promises to be an eye –opening and personally enriching series of encounters which will add value to what many World Moot participants have already described as the highlight of their university studies.

Offered Since: 2009

Type: Contest

Eligibility: 

• The Competition is open to both undergraduate and master’s degree law students.
• A team of two students from each university – preferably one woman and one man – is invited to participate.

Selection Process: 

• In the preliminary rounds the students submit heads of argument for a hypothetical case, which are assessed by a panel of experts.
• The best 10 teams from each UN region are then invited to participate in the pre-final and final rounds of the Competition in Geneva. Here, teams have to argue the two sides of the hypothetical case, the Applicant and the Respondent, before a ‘bench’ of human rights experts.
• The two best teams proceed to the final round, which is presided over by judges from international courts and tribunals. The Competition will be held in English and French.

Value of Contest: 

• No registration fees are charged
• However, participants must cover all their own costs (air tickets, accommodation, meals and medical insurance).
• As participants have to cover all their costs, they are encouraged to begin fundraising as soon as possible. Donors may include embassies, the UN and EU, bar associations and law firms, corporate donors and their own universities.

Duration of Contest: The Fifteenth Nelson Mandela World Human Rights Moot Court Competition adopts a hybrid format, with the in-person final rounds scheduled to take place at the Palais des Nations in Geneva, Switzerland from 18 – 21 July 2023 and the preliminary virtual rounds (online) scheduled to take place from 20 – 27 May 2023.

How to Apply: Apply here

It is important to go through the Contest Guidelines and Application FAQ before applying.

Visit Contest Webpage for details