Summary of previous competitions
2023: Prosecutor V. Corlis Valeron of The Republic of Regale
The 2023 edition of the IBA ICC Moot Court Competition welcomed in The Hague 600 top law students from over 45 countries spanning all continents. The Universidade Federal da Bahia (Brazil) won the 2023 edition, with the Maastricht University (Netherlands) placing second, and the Université libre de Bruxelles (Belgium) placing third.
The 2023 edition celebrated the 10th anniversary of the ICC Moot Court Competition, and featured high-level speakers, including an opening address from ICC Deputy Prosecutor Nazhat Shameem Khan.
During the week, participating students engaged in a comprehensive educational and social program that included a roundtable discussion on Accountability for War Crimes in Ukraine and the Crime of Aggression, and a dedicated workshop providing information and tips on applications for internships in international courts and tribunals. Celebratory events were sponsored by the IBA, the Grotius Centre, and the Municipality of The Hague, with the presence of ICC officials and other relevant stakeholders working in the field of international justice.
Please see the IBA ICC Moot Court Competition 2023 Booklet with more information on participating teams and legal experts that made this year a success.
2022: Prosecutor V. Agon Megor of the Republic of Ibbin
The 2022 virtual edition of the IBA ICC Moot Court Competition welcomed top law students of 76 universities from 42 countries spanning all continents. After six preliminary rounds and three elimination rounds, The Honourable Society of King’s Inns has been named winner of the 2022 edition, with China University of Political Science and Law (China) placing second, and Emory University School of Law (United States) placing third.
Like the previous year, the teams and judges had the opportunity to attend a number of academic side-events, spotlighted below:
- IBA ICC MCC 2022 Opening Ceremony with Keynote Address by Judge Silvia Fernandez de Gurmendi, ICC Assembly of States Parties (ASP) President
- Reflections on the Ongwen case. Discussion led by Prof. Michael Scharf (IBA ICC Moot Court Competition Board of Advisors and Dean of Case Western Reserve University School of Law), featuring Prof. Milena Sterio (Professor of Law and LLM Programs Director at Cleveland-Marshall College of Law); Mr. Tom Obhof (Assistant to Counsel on the Defence Team for Dominic Ongwen at the ICC); Mr. Jonathan Worboys, (Barrister at 4 New Square Chambers); and Mr. Gregory Townsend (Lecturer at The Hague University of Applied Sciences)
- Supranational Criminal Law Lecture on ‘Is Universal Jurisdiction becoming more Universal? Taking Stock of Contemporary Practices’. Panel discussion led by Prof. Carsten Stahn (Professor of International Criminal Law and Global Justice, Leiden Law School), featuring Ms. Nathalie von Wistinghausen(Attorney-at-law, International Criminal Law Expert); Dr Priya Pillai (International Lawyer/Head – Asia Justice Coalition); and Dr Thijs Bouwknegt(Researcher – NIOD Institute for War, Holocaust, and Genocide Studies & M.Sc. in Holocaust and Genocide Studies Director – University of Amsterdam). The SCL Lecture Series is a series on international criminal law and has been organised, since 2003, by the Asser institute, the Coalition for the ICC and the Grotius Centre for International Legal Studies of Leiden University.
- Panel discussion on ‘Indigenous Peoples and Trials before International Criminal Courts and Tribunals’ moderated by Mr. Matthew Cross (Appeals Counsel at International Criminal Court – acting in personal capacity), featuring Dr. Monica Coc Magnusson (Director of Advocacy and Policy, Cultural Survival); Dr. Carwyn Jones (Honorary Adjunct Professor, Victoria University of Wellington); Ms. Mary Ann Manja Bayang (Global Operations Manager, Indigenous Peoples Rights International); and Mr. Brendan Miller (Special Counsel, Foster LLP).
- Panel discussion on ‘Delivering Meaningful Justice to Indigenous Victims of International Crimes‘ moderated by Prof. Milena Sterio (Charles R. Emrick Jr. – Calfee Halter & Griswold Professor of Law at Cleveland State University’s Cleveland-Marshall College of Law), featuring Mr. Alancay Morales Garro in a pre-recorded intervention (Global Advocacy Coordinator, Indigenous Peoples Rights International); Dr. Krishna Bhattachan (Expert Adviser, Lawyer’s Association for Human Rights of Nepalese Indigenous Peoples); Mr. Harold and Mr. Phil Gatensby (Circle Facilitators and Leaders); Ms. Myrna McCallum (Trauma-informed lawyer, Miyo Pimatisiwin Legal Services); Atty. Raymond Marvic C. Baguilat (Senior Legal Associate at UP Law Center Institute of Human Rights); and Justice Harry LaForme (Senior Counsel Olthuis Kleer Townshend LLP).
- ICC Moot Court Competition Final Round 2022 organized and hosted by the International Criminal Court
2021: Prosecutor V. Dragone Goodrider of Wessos
The 2021 IBA ICC Moot Court Competition was a remarkable edition! For the first time since its inception, the competition took place fully virtual. It also welcomed more teams (and judges) than ever; 80 teams from all corners of the world and more than 500 volunteering judges and memorial evaluators. The final round took place on 25 June in a hybrid format with ICC adjudicating from the ICC Courtroom and the teams pleading online.
Please see the IBA ICC MCC 2021 Booklet with more information on participating teams and legal experts that made this year a success.
Aside from the oral pleading rounds, the teams and judges had the opportunity to attend a number of side-events, especially designed for them:
- Opening Ceremony with Keynote Speaker Ms Fatou Bensouda, former ICC Prosecutor (recording no longer available)
- Virtual Panel discussion on 'Accountability for Sexual and Gender-based crimes: Progress and Challenges (not recorded)
- Reflections from the ICC Bench: An interview with Judge Howard Morrison QC
- Indigenous Peoples and Human Rights: the Brazilian Indigenous Movement before International Courts and Tribunals
- Awards Ceremony
- Insight into the Case before the International Criminal Court (ICC): Ask the Author
