Applications are currently being accepted for the 16th edition of the Nelson Mandela World Human Rights Moot Court Competition. The competition will feature a hybrid format, with in-person final rounds set to occur at the Palais des Nations in Geneva, Switzerland, from July 15 to 19, 2024. Additionally, preliminary virtual rounds will take place online from May 14–21, 2024.
Key Requirements:
- The competition is open to undergraduate and master’s students from all universities worldwide.
- Teams consisting of two students (with encouragement for gender diversity) from each university are invited to submit heads of argument for a hypothetical human rights case.
- The top 10 teams from each of the five UN regions will be selected to participate in the online preliminary rounds.
- The 50 teams with the highest memorial grades will advocate for both sides of the hypothetical case, representing the applicant and the respondent alternately before a panel of human rights experts and international tribunal judges.
- The top 16 teams will advance to the in-person octofinal rounds, overseen by international human rights experts.
- The competition will be conducted in English, French, and Spanish.
Competition Venue:
- The round of 24,’ quarter-final, semi-final, and final rounds (oral rounds) are scheduled to be held at the UN headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland.
Language:
- The competition will be conducted in English, French, and Spanish.
Christof Heyns Memorial Commonwealth Scholarship:
- The scholarship amount is £5000, divided between the two students (oralists) from Commonwealth countries who successfully qualify for the preliminary rounds of the World Moot.
Eligibility Criteria:
Applicants are required to:
- Hold citizenship in a Commonwealth member state
- Be enrolled at a university located within a Commonwealth member state
- Clearly demonstrate the need for financial assistance to participate in the World Moot
Application Process:
Applications should include:
- A letter of motivation
- At least two letters of support, along with the contact details of the referees
Submit applications to Dr. Eduardo Kapapelo at eduardo.kapapelo@up.ac.za
Timeline:
- Faculty Registration:
- Opens on December 15, 2023
- Closes on April 21, 2024
- Release of the Hypothetical Case to be Argued: January 15, 2024
- Request for Clarification of Facts:
- Submission deadline: February 15, 2024
- Response to Requests for Clarification of Facts:
- Publicized by March 11, 2024
- Submission of Memorials:
- Deadline: April 21, 2024
- Announcement of the 50 Qualifying Teams: May 7, 2024
- Preliminary Rounds (Online): May 14–21, 2024
- Quarter-finals, Semi-finals, and Final Round (In-person): July 15–19, 2024
For additional information,
Deadline for Applications: April 21, 2024.
