Students from South Africa win Children’s Rights Moot Court 2023
The team from University of Pretoria won the international Children’s Rights Moot Court organised by Leiden University in partnership with Baker McKenzie.
The Children’s Rights Moot Court was held between 19 and 28 June 2023. Thirty-six student teams from universities all over the world competed against each other in several rounds. The 2023 fifth edition of the biennial moot court focused on the rights of children in the context of climate change.
The final was between the University of Pretoria (as applicant) and the Tashkent State University of Law, Uzbekistan (as respondent). The students presented their case to a five-member court presided by Professor Ann Skelton, Chair of the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child. Other members of the bench included, Hon. Justice Muhammad Imman Ali (retired Judge of the Supreme Court of Bangladesh), Claudia Benavides (Partner and Global Chair of Dispute Resolution, Baker McKenzie), Justice Ronnie Boodoosingh (Court of Appeal, High Court Trinidad & Tobago), and Dr Margaretha Wewerinke-Singh (Case author, Children’s Rights Moot Court 2023 and Associate Professor, University of Amsterdam).
A team from Leiden University also participated in this year’s edition, comprising of Jiali Zhou, Tianle YE, Samantha Kudzai Ruponga and Tamizhoviya Indhoomati Thangavel, students of the Advanced Master International Children’s Rights. The team also won the award for the Best Oral Argument for the Respondent.
Hundreds of volunteers
More than 300 volunteers from across the world including from our partner Baker Mckenzie made this event possible. They read the written pleadings from students, acted as judges, drew up competition schedules taking all the different time zones into account, facilitated the online rounds, trained and coached the students, trained the judges, were available 24/7 in case of technical problems and distributed newsletters. We are also very proud that we could count on many judges and other renowned experts who put critical questions to students and gave constructive feedback.
Vice-Dean of Leiden Law School, who holds the UNICEF Chair in Children's Rights at Leiden University, Professor Ton Liefaard, said: 'Together with Baker McKenzie, we're proud once again to be able to offer students a hands-on learning opportunity that will have a lasting impact for years to come. In this global competition, they've met their peers from all over the world and received support from professionals. With this year's case focusing on climate change, we wanted to bring this topical area of children's rights to the forefront. Above all, we were impressed by how each student managed to deal with complex legal concepts and produce compelling submissions. On behalf of Leiden Law School, we congratulate all students who participated in this edition and wish them the best as they become the lawyers of tomorrow.'
- Winner of the Children’s Rights Moot Court Competition 2023 – University of Pretoria, South Africa. Team members: Chaun D Duplessis, Muskaan Singh, Yonela Vayo and Kimberlin Brink.
- Finalist team – Tashkent State University of Law, Uzbekistan. Team members: Sevarabonu Bekkulbekova, Rano Abdunaimova, Sarvarbek Abduazizov and Zukhra Abdurashidova.
- Best Memorial for the Applicant – Moi University, Kenya. Team members: Sandra Koile, Jonathan Ndolo, Trazylyne Gati and Joseph Aduke.
- Best Memorial for the Respondent – Queen's University Belfast, Northern Ireland. Team members: Fallon Burns, Declan Cormican, Meghan Ang and David Atkinson.
- Best Oral Argument for the Applicant – University of Pretoria, South Africa. Team members: Chaun D Duplessis, Muskaan Singh, Yonela Vayo and Kimberlin Brink.
- Best Oral Argument for the Respondent – Leiden University, Netherlands. Team members: Jiali Zhou, Tianle YE, Samantha Kudzai Ruponga and Tamizhoviya Indhoomati Thangavel.
- Best Oralist (based on the Preliminary Round score) – Mallar Mitra, West Bengal National University of Juridical Sciences, India.
Leiden University congratulates all winners and thanks everyone who took part in this international moot court. The next edition will be held in 2025.