15th Nelson Mandela World Human Rights Moot Court Competition

The Fifteenth Nelson Mandela World Human Rights Moot Court Competition adopted a hybrid format, with the in-person final rounds scheduled to take place at the Palais des Nations in Geneva, Switzerland from 17 – 21 July 2023 and the preliminary virtual rounds (online) scheduled to take place from 20 – 27 May 2023.

Documents 2023

Hypothetical case to be argued 
Official rules
Clarification of Facts
Appendix A: Memorial Cover Page
Appendix B: Memorial Scoring Sheet
Appendix C: Instructions to Judges
Appendix D: Scoring Sheet

Winning Team 

National University of Advanced Legal Studies, Kochi (India)

Winning team of the 2023 Nelson Mandela World Human Rights Moot Court Competition (from left, Akhila Vijayan and Aishwarya Sridhar)

Preliminary Rounds

All registered teams are required to submit written heads of arguments (memorials). These memorials are assessed, and the best teams from each of the 5 UN regions (the top 14 teams from Africa; 13 from Asia; 9 from Latin America and the Caribbean; 8 from the West European and Other; and 6 from East European states), are identified on the basis of the marks awarded for the written memorials. The best teams qualify to participate in the preliminary rounds.

In 2023, the World Moot brought together the following 45 participants, selected based on the marks awarded to their written heads of argument, for the preliminary rounds:

Africa Group (14 teams)

Asia Pacific Group (13 teams)

Latin America & Caribbean Group (7 teams)

Western Europe & Others Group (8 teams)

Eastern European Group (3 teams)

Results: Memorials (written heads of argument)

Best  Spanish-language memorials

Universidad Nacional de Cuyo, Argentina

Best English-language memorials

1. University of Buenos Aires, Argentina - 86.25% 
2. University of Lucerne, Switzerland - 81.75% 
3. Institute of Law Nirma, India - 81.5%   
4. Dr Ram Manohar Lohia National Law, India - 81.5%
5. University, Lucknow, India - 80.75% 
6. University of Oxford, United Kingdom - 80%       
7. Kabarak University, Kenya - 79.25%
8. University of Malawi - 78.75%
9. University of Sydney, Australia - 78.30%
10. Kutafin Moscow State Law University, Russia - 78.25%

Results: Best teams in the Preliminary Rounds

Top two teams in the French-language Preliminary Rounds

1. Université Officielle de Bukavu - 70.5%
2. Université Catholique du Congo - 60.8%

Top five teams in the Spanish-language Preliminary Rounds

1. Universidad del Cauca - 82.02%
2. Universidad de San Carlos de Guatemala - 76.54%
3. Universidad Nacional de Cuyo - 72.92%
4. Universidad de Guadalajara - 66.17%
5. Universidad Católica Boliviana San Pablo - Sede Cochabamba - 59.88%

Top ten teams in the English-language  Preliminary Rounds      

1. St Thomas University - 89,25%
2. University of Oxford - 88,46%
3. University of Buenos Aires - 87,94%
4. National University of Singapore - 86,33%
5. Midlands State University - 86,15%
6. University of Sydney - 85,77%
7. University of San Carlos, Philippines - 85,69%
8. Hidayatullah National Law University - 84,22%
9. University of Sao Paolo - 83,87%
10. 10. National University of Advanced Legal Studies, Kochi - 83,37%

Results: Best oralists in the Preliminary Rounds:

Best oralist in the French-language  Preliminary Rounds

Noblesse Buhendwa

Best oralist in the Spanish-language  Preliminary Rounds

Victor Manuel Ruiz Burbano

Best oralist in the English-language  Preliminary Rounds

1. Julia Evans St Thomas University
2. Luca Geary University of Oxford
3. Elisha Gunaratnam St Thomas University
4. Fiorella Giselle Cesa University of Buenos Aires
5. Lucy Ryder University of Oxford      

Advanced ‘Round of 24’: Eight teams qualifying for Quarter-Finalists   

After the ‘Round of 24’, the following 8 teams advanced to the quarter-finals:

1. 1. St Thomas University (Canada) 94.17%
2. 2. University of Oxford (United Kingdom) 93%
3. 3. University of Sydney (Australia) 89.67%
4. 4. University of Buenos Aires (Argentina) 88.33%
5. 5. University of San Carlos (Philippines) 86.83%
6. 6. University of Lagos (Nigeria) 81.33%
7. 7. National University of Advanced Legal Studies, Kochi (India) 85.83%
8. 8. Universidad de San Carlos de Guatemala (Guatemala) 83.17%

Semi Finalists

National University of Advanced Legal Studies, Kochi (India)

St Thomas University (Canada)

University of San Carlos (Philippines)

University of Sydney (Australia)

Finalists

National University of Advanced Legal Studies, Kochi (India)

St Thomas University (Canada) 

Winning Team 

National University of Advanced Legal Studies, Kochi (India)

For more information, please contact:

Mr Tapiwa Mhuru

Centre for Human Rights

 tapiwa.mhuru@up.ac.za.