Now in its 11th year, the seven-day programme—organised in collaboration with the Grotius Centre for International Legal studies of the Leiden University—brought together 500 law students from 47 countries, comprising 93 teams.
The ICC Moot Court is a simulation of the ICC, with participants acting as prosecution, defence and victims’ counsel. Students presented arguments this year on the fictional case of The Prosecutor v Lionel Strong—Situation in the Republic of Sirax. The case concerns the question of whether the destruction of cultural heritage is a prosecutable war crime or a crime against humanity.
Addressing the competition participants, Judge Tomoko Akane, International Criminal Court (ICC) president, said: ‘The ICC is entrusted with a noble mandate: to fight against impunity and establish the rule of law by carrying out fair judicial proceedings… [T]he issues contained in the moot problem are actual issues that may arise in real world situations or those that have been relevant in actual cases before the court.
‘One of the great characteristics of this competition is also that many of the judges who will pose questions to you are familiar with the practice in ICC proceedings. I am therefore confident that in attempting to persuade these judges, you will learn a lot about the actual practice of ICC proceedings, and not just the theory.’
The final round was due to take place on 7 June 2024 at the ICC, with students presenting oral argument before ICC Judge Althea Violet Alexis-Windsor.
IBA executive director Mark Ellis said: ‘Over the years our Moot Court has contributed to a global community of practitioners who will carry on the fight against injustice and criminal acts into the next generation and beyond.’
