The 18th Nelson Mandela World Human Rights Moot Court Competition concluded on 17 July 2026 with the Final Round and Closing Ceremony held in Geneva, Switzerland. The final day brought together judges, academics, legal practitioners, diplomats, participants and guests to witness the culmination of the Competition following months of preparation, written memorials and oral pleadings.
The Final Round commenced at 10:0 with Ms Carole Viljoen serving as Court Bailiff. Dr Sabelo Gumedze, Assistant Director of the Centre for Human Rights, Faculty of Law, University of Pretoria, welcomed participants and introduced the distinguished bench comprising:
- Honourable Judge President Ivana Jelić
- Honourable Judge Dire Tladi
- Honourable Judge Veronica Gomez
- Honourable Professor Manfred Nowak
- Honourable Professor Thompson Chengeta
- Honourable Mr Bikram Batra
The finalists were:
- Applicant: Midlands State University (Zimbabwe)
- Respondent: Strathmore University (Kenya)
Before proceedings commenced, Judge President Ivana Jelić invited each team to introduce themselves and confirmed the time allocation for the hearing. Each team was allocated a total of 45 minutes, including the Applicant's rebuttal.
During the hearing, both teams presented oral arguments before the bench, responding to questions on the legal and factual issues arising from the 2026 hypothetical case. Members of the bench engaged counsel through detailed questioning, testing the teams' legal reasoning, interpretation of international human rights law and advocacy skills. The hearing concluded at approximately 11:45.
Following the oral proceedings, the judges retired to deliberate before reconvening at 12:30 to provide feedback to the finalists. Judge President Ivana Jelić invited each member of the bench to share observations on the teams' performances in the following order:
- Judge Veronica Gomez
- Judge Dire Tladi
- Professor Manfred Nowak
- Professor Thompson Chengeta
- Mr Bikram Batra
- Judge President Ivana Jelić
The judges commended both teams for the high standard of advocacy demonstrated throughout the Competition and offered constructive reflections on legal analysis, courtroom advocacy, structure of argument and responses to judicial questioning. Judge President Jelić informed participants that the final results would be announced during the Closing Ceremony.
The programme continued with closing remarks by His Excellency Ambassador Zaheer Laher, Permanent Representative of South Africa to the United Nations in Geneva. Ambassador Laher reflected on the importance of international human rights law and encouraged participants to continue advancing the protection and promotion of human rights throughout their legal careers. He noted that human rights remain dependent on those willing to study, defend and uphold them.
In recognition of their longstanding contribution to the Competition, honorary awards were presented to members of the Final Round bench. The awards were presented by Judge Dire Tladi, Ambassador Zaheer Laher and Dr Sabelo Gumedze.
The recipients were:
- Professor Manfred Nowak, in recognition of more than ten years of distinguished service as a Final Round Judge.
- Judge Veronica Gomez, in recognition of more than ten years of distinguished service as a Final Round Judge.
- Professor Thompson Chengeta, in recognition of more than ten years of distinguished service as a Final Round Judge.
- Judge President Ivana Jelić, in recognition of more than five years of distinguished service as author of the hypothetical case and Final Round Judge.
Professor Frans Viljoen delivered the vote of thanks, expressing appreciation to the Competition's judges, participants, coaches, university partners, sponsors and supporters for their continued commitment to the Nelson Mandela World Human Rights Moot Court Competition. He also acknowledged the Centre for Human Rights team for the extensive work undertaken in organising the Competition and extended special recognition to Ms Carole Viljoen for her longstanding service to both the Centre and the Competition.
The organising team from the Centre for Human Rights comprised:
- Dr Sabelo Gumedze
- Mr Samuel Chamboko
- Ms Carole Viljoen
- Mr Yusuf Sayaad
- Ms Emily Laubscher
- Ms Zelda Ramatsetse
- Ms Kiara Ramluckun
The Awards Ceremony followed, during which the winners across the various competition categories were announced.
18th Nelson Mandela World Human Rights Moot Court Competition Results
Winning Team
- Midlands State University (Zimbabwe) – Applicant
Best Oralists (Online Rounds)
English
- Anthony Ma – University of New South Wales (Australia)
- Brendan Zane Milobara – University of New South Wales (Australia)
- Oyama Mzayidume – University of Oxford (United Kingdom)
- Muskan Goyal – University of Oxford (United Kingdom)
- Ananya Mishra – University of Allahabad (India)
- Islamiat Oyindamola Kolawole – Koç University (Turkey)
- Simon Kimuhu Muriithi – Kenyatta University (Kenya)
- Samad Quraishi – Sciences Po Law School (France)
- Roygen Omwenga Ongegu – Kenyatta University (Kenya)
- Catarina Lima Fonseca de Carvalho – Federal University of Bahia (Brazil)
- Karkusha Yuliia – Ukrainian Catholic University (Ukraine)
- Fatima Khalil – Hidayatullah National Law University (India)
- Sarp Ünal – Koç University (Turkey)
- Abhishek Maurya – University of Allahabad (India)
- Sagal Ahmed Mohammed – Strathmore University (Kenya)
French
- DE SOUZA Aude Yabahou Bomotchi – UCAO-UUA (Côte d'Ivoire)
- Yapi Jean-Uves Osin – UCAO-UUA (Côte d'Ivoire)
Spanish
- Ana Inés Cataldo Gutiérrez – Universidad Austral (Argentina)
- Karen Sofía Sichacá Rodríguez – Universidad Nacional de Colombia (Colombia)
- Cristian Manuel Nava Rivas – Universidad Autónoma de Coahuila (Mexico)
- María Josefina Buratti Bonasso – Universidad Austral (Argentina)
- Camila Mariana Cortez Camacho – Universidad Católica Boliviana 'San Pablo' (Bolivia)
Best Memorials
English
- NALSAR University of Law, Hyderabad (India)
- Kenyatta University (Kenya)
- University of Allahabad (India)
- Strathmore University (Kenya)
- Royal University of Law and Economics (Cambodia)
- Károli Gáspár University of the Reformed Church (Hungary)
- Kabarak University (Kenya)
- University of New South Wales (Australia)
- Cairo University (Egypt)
- Uganda Christian University (Uganda)
Spanish
- Universidad Católica Boliviana 'San Pablo' (Bolivia)
- Universidad Autónoma de Coahuila (Mexico)
- Universidad Austral (Argentina)
- Universidad Nacional de Colombia (Colombia)
- University of Granada (Spain)
French
- Université Catholique de l'Afrique de l'Ouest (Côte d'Ivoire)
- Université de Kinshasa (Democratic Republic of the Congo)
- Free University of the Great Lakes Region (Democratic Republic of the Congo)
Top 16 Teams in person rounds
- Kabarak University Kenya
- Kenyatta University Kenya
- Koç University Turkey
- Midlands State University Zimbabwe
- National Law School University of India India
- Royal University of Law and Economics Cambodia
- St. Thomas University Canada
- Strathmore University Kenya Kenya
- Ukrainian Catholic University Ukraine
- Universidad Austral Argentina
- Universidad Autónoma de Coahuila Mexico
- Universidad Católica Boliviana 'San Pablo' Bolivia
- Universidad Nacional de Colombia Colombia
- University of New South Wales Australia
- University of Oxford United Kingdom
- West Bengal National University of Juridical Sciences India
Top 8 Teams in person rounds
- Kenyatta University Kenya
- Midlands State University Zimbabwe
- National Law School University of India India
- Strathmore University Kenya Kenya
- Universidad Autónoma de Coahuila Mexico
- Universidad Nacional de Colombia Colombia
- University of New South Wales Australia
- West Bengal National University of Juridical Sciences India
Top 4 Teams in person rounds
- Midlands State University Zimbabwe
- National Law School University of India India
- Strathmore University Kenya Kenya
- West Bengal National University of Juridical Sciences India
The Closing Ceremony was also attended by His Excellency Ambassador Carlos Mario Foradori, Permanent Representative of Argentina to the United Nations in Geneva, whose presence was acknowledged by Dr Sabelo Gumedze.
Professor Viljoen formally closed the 18th Nelson Mandela World Human Rights Moot Court Competition and invited all participants, judges, organisers and guests to gather for the official group photograph.
The Competition concluded another successful edition, reaffirming its role as a leading international platform for legal education and the promotion of international human rights law. Through the participation of students, judges, academics and practitioners from around the world, the Competition continues to advance excellence in legal advocacy while preparing future generations of human rights lawyers committed to the protection of human dignity and the rule of law.
Watch the Finals
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