IBA extends partnership with Grotius Centre, organiser of the annual IBA ICC Moot Court Competition
The International Bar Association (IBA) and the Grotius Centre for International Legal Studies at Leiden Law School (Grotius Centre) have signed a new Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) extending their partnership regarding the organising of the IBA ICC Moot Court Competition (Moot Court or ‘Competition’). The MOU, signed on 12 June 2025, will be effective from 1 January for a period of five years to 2031.
The Competition, held annually by the International Bar Association (IBA) in conjunction with the International Criminal Court (ICC) and organised by the Grotius Centre, is the world’s largest annual moot court focused on international criminal law. Participating in the 2025 Competition, held from 11–18 June, were 88 academic institutions representing 45 countries.
The purpose of the Moot Court is threefold, to:
- allow the top law students from all over the world to improve their knowledge of international criminal law in general and of the ICC and its proceedings in particular;
- provide students with the opportunity to become familiar with institutions in The Hague such as the ICC, the United Nations International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals (IRMCT), the International Court of Justice (ICJ) and the Peace Palace (Library); and
- enhance knowledge of the Rome Statute, especially within countries that have yet to ratify it.
The MOU includes the IBA Financial Support Programme for Teams, providing scholarships for five teams per year. By contributing to the budgets of selected teams the IBA reduces financial barriers and makes the Competition more inclusive. Since 2018, scholarships have been granted to teams from Brazil, Chile, Ghana, India, Iraq, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Nepal, Nigeria, Tanzania, The Gambia and Ukraine.
IBA President Jaime Carey stated, ‘The establishment of the IBA ICC Moot Court is rooted in the conviction that it plays a vital role in educating the next generation of international lawyers, who will continue the fight against impunity for the gravest international crimes.’ Mr Carey added, ‘The IBA was founded with the goal of encouraging cooperation between lawyers across the world. This Moot Court does that at the earliest stage of a lawyer’s career, and with the continued cooperation with the exemplary organising skills of the Grotius Centre we will continue to do so for many years to come. I am delighted that a new MOU is in place.’
The IBA ICC Moot Court Competition is a prominent educational programme that brings together students from varied backgrounds and cultures to simulate the judicial proceedings of the ICC. Through the preparation and presentation of written and oral arguments in a hypothetical case students’ knowledge of ICC procedures are enhanced. Participants benefit from a unique opportunity to develop their skills by arguing before panels of distinguished legal experts, including judges from international courts and tribunals, professors of international law, and legal professionals, many of whom are members of the IBA. The experience then concludes with the final round of the Competition being held on the premises of the ICC.
IBA Executive Director Dr Mark Ellis stated, ‘By providing the top legal minds of the future from both ICC Member and non-Member States, an opportunity to learn more about the Court the IBA ICC Moot Court Competition promotes dialogue and learning across geographical and cultural barriers and increases support and understanding about the role of lawyers in protecting the rule of law and promoting accountability. The IBA is grateful to the Grotius Centre for excellent cooperation over many years, and with this renewed MOU we look forward to continuing to grow the number of students involved and to amplify the Competition's positive impact on the development of international criminal lawyers.’
Dr Carsten Stahn, Professor of International Criminal Law and Global Justice at Leiden University and Chair of the IBA ICC Moot Court Competition Organising Committee said, ‘In times like these, the IBA ICC Moot Court is more needed than ever to educate the lawyers of the future. We are delighted to continue this wonderful collaboration with the IBA. The agreement reflects our strong partnership and mutual commitment and provides an invaluable basis for the years to come.’
The signatories of the MOU were Maria F Jaramillo Gomez, Project Leader at the Grotius Centre for International Legal Studies (Leiden Law School); Dr Carsten Stahn, Professor of International Criminal Law and Global Justice at Leiden University and Chair of the IBA ICC Moot Court Competition Organising Committee; Joe Bell, IBA Operations Director; and Kate Orlovsky, Director of the IBA Hague Office.
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Related material:
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The International Bar Association (IBA), the global voice of the legal profession, is the foremost organisation for international legal practitioners, bar associations and law societies. Established in 1947, shortly after the creation of the United Nations, it was born out of the conviction that an organisation made up of the world's bar associations could contribute to global stability and peace through the administration of justice.
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The International Criminal Court (ICC) investigates and, where warranted, tries individuals charged with the gravest crimes of concern to the international community: genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity and the crime of aggression. The Court is participating in a global fight to end impunity, and through international criminal justice, the Court aims to hold those responsible accountable for their crimes and to help prevent these crimes from happening again. The Court cannot reach these goals alone. As a court of last resort, it seeks to complement, not replace, national courts. Governed by an international treaty called the Rome Statute, the ICC is the world’s first permanent international criminal court.
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The IBA commenced the International Criminal Court and International Criminal Law (ICC & ICL) Programme in 2005. Since its establishment, the IBA ICC & ICL Programme has contributed to the development of international criminal justice through monitoring and analysing issues related to fairness and equality of arms at the ICC, and through conducting outreach to deepen the understanding of the place of the ICC within the broader landscape of international justice and in particular contexts. The Programme works to increase cooperation with and support for the ICC and other accountability efforts, with the goal of strengthening the Rome Statute system globally and achieving fair, effective, and accessible justice for victims of genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes, and aggression.
The Programme also acts as the interface between the Courts and the global legal community. As such, special focus is placed on monitoring emerging issues of particular relevance to lawyers and collaborating with key partners on specific activities to increase engagement of the legal community on ICC and ICL issues.
Based in The Hague, the IBA ICC & ICL Programme consults and engages with court officials, state representatives, civil society organisations, academics, and international lawyers.
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