Ref: 66/2012

On Saturday morning, 14 July 2012, the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (PCHR) inaugurated the first day of the International Criminal Law Moot Court Competition.  The Court's Tribunal is comprised of: Judge Kalthoum Kennou, President of the Association of Tunisian Judges, President of the Jury; Mr. Alaa Shalabi, Secretary-General of the Arab Organization for Human Rights, a member; and Mr. Mahmoud Qandil, a member.  A number of academics, jurists, media professionals and students from the three universities participating in the competition (University of Palestine, the Islamic University and Al-Azhar University) attended the inauguration.      

The Moot Court is considering a fictional case in which suspicions are raised with regard to the perpetration of war crimes.  Ten students were selected from each one of the participating university and were divided into six groups, representing the parties of the Prosecutor and the Defense.  During the first hearing of the Court, two groups of the competing student groups presented their pleadings and legal evidence representing the parties of the Prosecutor and the Defense in the fictional criminal case.

In the second and third hearings, pleadings and defenses of the remaining groups will be heard.  They will also represent the parties of the Prosecutor and the Defense.  At the end of the first day of the Moot Court Competition, the two winning groups that will qualify to the second day of the Competition will be declared.   

On the second day of the Moot Court Competition, Sunday, 15 July 2012, the final hearing will be held, and the two qualifying student groups will present their pleadings before the Tribunal.  The second day will also witness the concluding ceremony and the distribution of participation certificates. 

PCHR started the implementation of the Moot Court Competition Project in the beginning of this year.  The project is funded by UNDP and sponsored by OHCHR.  Three Palestinian universities have participated in the project: University of Palestine; Islamic University; and Al Azhar University.  Ten students were selected from each university, forming three groups. 

During the preparations over the past months, the three participating student groups were intensively trained on international humanitarian law and international criminal law by local and international legal experts and trainers, under supervision by law professors of the three universities.

The Moot Court Competition Project constitutes a unique opportunity for practical training in preparing oral and written pleadings and presenting legal evidence in the fictional case.  It also helps participating student develop their skills in the field of practically applying the law to cases.  Additionally, it gives participating students an opportunity to raise their awareness of the nature of the International Criminal Court's work and litigation mechanisms before it.

Lawyer Raji Sourani, Director of PCHR, described the Moot Court Competition Project saying:  "The project is a pioneering experience in the occupied Palestinian territory, through which PCHR has attempted to convey its long and deep experience in the field of prosecution of war criminals to a new generation of young jurists.  The Moot Court Competition is the outcome of knowledge and experience invested over more than six months, during which the participating students received theoretical and practical training."

Sourani praised the performance of the competing groups, saying: "The students demonstrated cleat excellence before the Honorable Tribunal.  PCHR intends to take this experience forward in the future through developing such kind of training.  We plan to implement similar projects in the coming years in order to qualify a new young generation that does not forgive and forget war crimes and crimes against humanity committed against their people."

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