Nelson Mandela World Human Rights Moot
The World Human Rights Moot was initiated by the University of Pretoria and the Regional Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights in Southern Africa. Proceedings are before a fictitious world human rights court, but based on various regional and international human rights instruments. The championship final typically comprises judges and figures from various international tribunals and bodies such as the International Criminal Court, European Court of Human Rights, and International Law Commission, and is preceded by events such as the Nelson Mandela Human Rights Lecture. Originally held in Pretoria, the competition has been held at the UN headquarters in Geneva since 2015. The competition is also run in Spanish and French, and in 2021, for the first time, the championship final featured teams speaking in different languages. Due to travel restrictions brought about by COVID-19, the 2019/20 and 2020/21 editions were held online; in-person hearings resumed for the international rounds in 2021/22.
Established: 2009
Venue: Geneva
Record number of participants in international rounds: 43 teams (2019)
Subject matter: International human rights
Qualification process: Memorials, with random geographical caps
Prep window: Varies
Comp duration: 6 days, with socio-academic events included
Maximum team size: 2
Team anonymity: Yes
Format: Stand-up, 3 issues, 2 speakers, 30 minutes (including 1-speaker rebuttal for 1 side); 2 to 4 prelim rounds, knockouts from 8 to 16 with random seeding; 3,500 word (incl fn) pleadings for each side
Memorial weightage: None
Advanced round qualification priority: Random
Registration fee: Free
Repeat participation: Partly allowed
Multiple teams from same institution: Not allowed
Most championships: Norman Manley Law School (3)
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Past winners
Champion/finalist (no of teams in international rounds)
2024 (24): University of New South Wales/Singapore Management University
2023 (23): National University of Advanced Legal Studies/St Thomas University
2022 (39): Singapore Management University/Geneva Academy of IHL and HR
2021 (online): Strathmore University/Universidad Central del Ecuador
2020 (online): Strathmore University/Kenyatta University
2019 (43): University of Oxford/Macquarie University
2018 (40): University of Buenos Aires/St Thomas University
2017 (37): St Thomas University/University of Buenos Aires
2016 (24): Patrick Henry College/Moi University
2015 (16): University of Sao Paulo/Yale University
2014: University of New South Wales/Moi University
2012 (16): Norman Manley Law School/University of Auckland
2011 (15): Norman Manley Law School/Yale University
2010 (15): Norman Manley Law School/University of Sydney
Semi-finalists
2024: St Thomas University/Universidad Nacional de Colombia
2023: San Carlos University/University of Sydney
2022: Symbiosis Law School, Pune/University of Oxford
2021 (online): Kabarak University/University of Oxford
2020 (online): Unidad Academica Regional Cochabamba/University of Oxford
2019: Liberty University/Universidad Libre de Derecho
2018: Army Institute of Law/University of Oxford
Best oralist
2024: Strathclyde University
2023: St Thomas University
2022: Koc University
2021 (online): Strathmore University
2020 (online): National University of Singapore
2019: University of Oxford
2018: Midlands State University
2017: Strathmore University
2016: Patrick Henry College
2015: University of Sao Paulo
2014: University of New South Wales
2013: Norman Manley Law School
2011: Yale University and Potificia Universidade Catolica do Rio de Janeiro
2010: Norman Manley Law School
Best memorials
2024: Nelson Mandela University
2023: University of Buenos Aires
2022: University of Oxford
2021: Atma Jaya Catholic University of Indonesia
2020: Army Institute of Law
2018: Midlands State University
2017: Midlands State University
2016: Strathmore University
2015: Symbiosis Law School, Noida
2014: University of New South Wales
2013: University of Buenos Aires
2011: Ateneo Law School
2010: Ateneo Law School