Nelson Mandela World Human Rights Moot Court Competition 2024

The Sixteenth Nelson Mandela World Human Rights Moot Court Competition is taking on a new hybrid format, featuring both in-person final rounds at the Palais des Nations in Geneva, Switzerland from July 15 to 19, 2024, and preliminary virtual rounds online from May 14 to 21, 2024. This prestigious competition is open to students from universities worldwide. Participants will engage in a written phase followed by the oral phase, where teams will argue a hypothetical case on international human rights law before a simulated World Human Rights Court. The competition is based on the International Bill of Human Rights and other relevant human rights instruments.

In addition to the competition, there will be a special one-day event during the 2020 Nelson Mandela World Human Rights Moot Court Competition, offering students a unique opportunity to interact with senior staff members from the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and the Human Rights Council. This hands-on experience aims to provide valuable insights and enhance the participants’ understanding of human rights work. The event promises to be an enriching experience that complements the academic rigour of the competition.

For those interested in participating, the competition has no registration fees, but participants are responsible for covering their own expenses such as airfare, accommodation, meals, and medical insurance. To assist with funding, participants are encouraged to start fundraising early, with potential donors including embassies, the UN and EU, bar associations, law firms, corporate sponsors, and universities. The competition is open to both undergraduate and master’s degree law students, with teams consisting of two students from each university, preferably one female and one male. The selection process involves submitting arguments for a hypothetical case, with the top 10 teams from each UN region advancing to the final rounds in Geneva. The competition will be conducted in English and French, and the application deadline is April 15, 2024. To apply and for further information, visit the University of Pretoria website or contact the Nelson Mandela World Moot Court Competition Coordinator, Mr Tapiwa Mhuru at [email protected].