The Centre is delighted to announce the successful presentation of the 8th edition of the Nelson Mandela World Human Rights Moot Court Competition, which was held at Palais des Nations – the seat of the United Nations Office in Geneva – from 18 to 20 July 2016.
The Nelson Mandela World Human Rights Moot Court Competition has been presented every year for the last 8 years, bringing together some of the youngest and brightest law students from universities all around the globe to debate burning contemporary human rights issues on the basis of a common UN human rights system, influenced by national and regional perspectives and experiences. The Competition is unique in reaching a broad base of participants, including from those parts of the world where regional human rights systems have not been established, or have only been recently introduced.
Participants
In 2016, the Nelson Mandela World Human Rights Moot Court Competition brought together the following participants from the five UN regions:
I. Africa
1.Botswana: University of Botswana
2. Kenya: Moi University
3. Kenya: Strathmore University
4. Kenya: Kisii University
5. Malawi: University of Malawi Chancelors – College
6. Zambia: University of Zambia
7. Zimbabwe: Great Zimbabwe University
II. Asia-Pacific
8. India: Hidayatullah National Law University
9. India: Gujarat National Law Univesity
10. Japan: Tokyo University
11. Nepal: Purbanchal University
12. Peoples’ Republic of China: University of Renmin School of Law
13. Philippines: San Beda College
14. Thailand: Thammasat University
III. Eastern Europe
15. Belarus: Belarusian State University
IV. Latin America & Caribbean
16. Argentina: University of Buenos Aires
17. Brazil: University of Sao Paulo
18. Brazil: Pontifical University of Rio Grande do Sul
19. Brazil: Catholic University of Parana
20. Brazil: Londriba State University
21. Brazil: Faculdade CESUSC
V. Western Europe & Others
22. Australia: University of New South Wales
23. United States of America: Yale University
24. United States of America: Patrick Henry College
The opening ceremony was held on the evening of 18 July 2016, with participants and members of permanent diplomatic missions in Geneva being welcomed by three speakers, who welcomed all participants warmly, while pointing out the privilege, opportunity and symbolism of being in the very building where real countries argue and debate real human rights issues. The speakers at the opening ceremony were:
- H.E Mr Ramon A. Morales QUINJANO (Panama), Vice-President of the Human Rights Council
- Ms Nocumisa Notutela, Deputy Permanent Representative, Republic of South Africa
- Mr Eric Tistounet, Officer-in-Charge, Human Rights Council Mechanism Division, Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights
In the Nelson Mandela World Human Rights Moot Court Competition, participating universities select two students who submit written heads of argument for a hypothetical case. In 2016, the case dealt with freedom of expression, discrimination on the grounds of sexual orintation and the right to life. Experts assess these memorials and the best teams from each region are invited to travel to Geneva to participate in the pre-final rounds of the Competition. Here teams argue the two sides of the hypothetical case before a ‘bench’ of human rights experts. These pre-final rounds were held on 18 and 19 July 2016.
At the end of two days of pre-final rounds, the two best teams – from two different UN world regions – proceed to the final round. The final round was held on 20 July 2016, in the chamber of the United Nations Human Rights Council – officially known as the Human Rights and Alliance of Civilizations Room. Under the famous giant multi-coloured ceiling, a new generation of human rights lawyers, activists, academics, diplomats and civil servants gave a spectacular display of oratory skill and a mastery of international human rights.
Final Round
In 2016, the following teams appeared in the final:
- Arguing the case for the Applicant:
Patrick Henry College, USA - Arguing the case for the Respondent:
Moi Univerity, Kenya
The judges in the final round were:
- Justice Johan van der Westhuizen (Presiding) (South Africa)
Retired Justice, South African Constitutioal Court - Judge Dragojlub Popovic (Serbia)
Retired Judge, European Court of Human Rights - Judge Raul Pangalangan (Phillipines)
Judge, International Criminal Court - Prof Cecile Aptel-Williamson (France)
Senior Legal Policy Adviser, OHCHR; Associate Professor, Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy - Prof Robert Roth (Switzerland)
Director, Geneva Academy of International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights
Prof Frans Viljoen (Centre for Human Rights), Judge Raul Pangalangan (Phillipines), Judge Dragojlub Popovic (Serbia),
Prof Cecile Aptel-Williamson (France), Justice Johan van der Westhuizen (South Africa), Prof Robert Roth (Switzerland)
The Centre for Human Rights is proud to present the Nelson Mandela World Human Rights Moot Court Competition in partnership with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, and is especially grateful to the following persons who made it possible :
- Ms Katherine Liao, Regional Representative, Southern Africa Regional Office of the OHCHR.
- Mr Eric Tistounet, Officer-in-Charge, Human Rights Council Mechanism Division, OHCHR.
- Mr Rolando Gomez, Public Information Officer, Human Rights Council Branch, OHCHR.
- Ms Sarah Lubbersen, Public Information Officer, Human Rights Council Branch, OHCHR
The Centre for Human Rights is grateful for the financial contribution of the following donors to the realisation of the 8th Nelson Mandela World Human Rights Moot Court Competition:
- The Permanent Mission of the Swiss Federation, through Ms Barbara Fontana.
- The Permanent Mission of Ireland, through Ms Nuala NiMhuichertaigh.
- The OHCHR Regional Office for Southern, through Ms Katherine Liao.
- The Global Campus for Human Rights, through Ms Valentina Abita and Ms Veronica Gomez.
- The European Union
The keynote speaker at the closing ceremony was Mr Adam Abdelmoula, Director, Human Rights Council Branch and Treaty Mechanisms.
Results
1. PRELIMINARY ROUNDS – also known as memorial rounds
Top memorials:
1: Strathmore Univesity, Kenya (94.00%)
2: Yale Law School, USA (90.00%)
3: Renmin University School of Law (85.50%)
2. PRE-FINAL ROUNDS
2.1 Top teams
The top 5 universities from the preliminary rounds are:
1: Patrick Henry College, USA (88.25%)
2: Moi University, Kenya (85.92%)
3: Strathmore Univesity, Kenya (85.10%)
4: Great Zimbabwe University, Zimbabwe (84.77%)
5: University of Buenos Aires (83.38%)
2.2 Best oralists
Students are scored individually for their oral presentations in the preliminary rounds. The best oralist is the student with the highest individual score in the pre-final rounds.
1: Patrick Henry College, USA, Mr Willia Bock (89.00%)
2: Patrick Henry College, USA, Ms Helaina Hirsch (87.50%)
3: Moi University, Kenya Mr Stephen Adier (86.92%)
3. FINAL ROUND
3.1 RUNNERS-UP
Respondent: Moi University, Kenya
- Mr Alphacxid Nyorsok
- Mr Stephen Adier
3.2 WINNER
Applicant: Patrick Henry College, USA
- Ms Helaina Hirsch
- Mr William Bock
Mr Alphacxid Nyorsok (Moi University), Ms Helaina Hirsch (Patrick Henry College),
Mr William Bock (Patrick Henry College) and Mr Stephen Adier (Moi University)
For more information on the World Moot, the rules of procedure, the hypothetical case, and registration details, please visit: http://www.chr.up.ac.za/moot-courts/nelson-mandela-world-human-rights-moot-court-competition/english-site
