Posted on September 27, 2017
The African Human Rights Moot Court Competition is the largest gathering of students, academics and judges around the theme of human rights in Africa. This annual event brings together all law faculties in Africa, whose top students argue a hypothetical human rights case as if they were before the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights. The Competition aims to prepare a new generation of lawyers to argue cases of alleged human rights violations before the African Court.
Since its creation in 1992, 145 universities from 50 African countries have taken part in its permanent fixture on the Africa legal education calendar. The Moot has been a catalyst for the establishment of the leading programmes in the field of human rights teaching and research in Africa. In 2016, the 25th edition of the Moot Court Competition was hosted at the University of Pretoria in collaboration with the African Commission on Human and Peoples ‘Rights. The event brought together 190 participants and 59 teams from 20 African countries. The Moot has become a permanent fixture on the calendar of many African Universities and students compete fiercely to be selected as ambassadors of their university and country.
In 2017, the Moot Competition will tackle issues related to the rights to development and freedom of expression. The 26th African Human Rights Moot Court Competition is hosted and held at the University of Mauritius from 18 to 23 September 2017, in Réduit, Mauritius.
From Sunday, 17 September 2017, the island nation renowned for its lush tropical vegetation, sugar cane plantations, spectacular mountains, white sandy beaches, lagoons and an exotic mix of Indian, African, British, French and Chinese cultural influences, welcomed students, lecturer, human rights academics and experts from all over Africa for the 26th African Human Rights Moot Court Competition.
Every year, all faculties of law in Africa are invited to send a team of two students – preferably one man and one woman – as well as their lecturer in human rights or international law, to participate in the African Human Rights Moot Court Competition. Teams argue a hypothetical human rights case as if they are before the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights. This six-day event also includes a one-day international conference and sees the participation of students, academics, judges and experts from all over Africa and the world.
This year, the event brought together 45 Anglophone, 6 Francophone and 3 Lusophone teams.
Students and faculty representatives appeared in their traditional attires and undertook registration formalities at the Raise Plaza New Academic Building (NAC), University of Mauritius on 18 September, where they submitted their memorials (written heads of argument) and received the leading publications on human rights in Africa published by the Pretoria University Law Press (PULP) as well as branded T-shirts and bags.
The opening ceremony was held at the Paul Octave Wiehe (POWA) Auditorium, University of Mauritius. Mr. Norman Taku, Assistant Director of the Centre for Human Rights welcomed all participants and guests. He encouraged Moot participants to take full advantage of the Moot Competition and the opportunities it creates for personal growth, urging them to be persistent and determined in working for a better Africa and a fairer world. Mr Taku inspired the students with the life of the Attorney General and Minister of Justice of Mauritius who with Mr. Taku participated as a moot participant in the 3rd African Human Rights Moot held in 1995.
Dr Geetanee Napal, Dean of the Faculty of Law and Management, Honourable Maneesh Gobin, Attorney General and Minister of Justice who was a moot participant in 1995 and Prof. Dhanjay Jhurry, Vice Chancellor, University of Mauritius, warmly welcomed participants on behalf of the University and Republic of Mauritius.
The keynote address was delivered by His Excellency Mr Paramasivum Pillay Vyapoory G.O.S.K, the vice president now the acting President of Mauritius representing Her Excellency President Ameenah Gurib. The acting president urged the students to be the best they can in life and be conscientious lawyers as they grow in the legal career. He also commended the Centre for Human Rights for taking the initiative to commence the African Human Rights Moot as it has not only served as a source of human rights education but has also contributed in shaping the human rights discourse in Africa.
Held on 19 and 20 September at the Faculty of Law and Management, University of Mauritius, the preliminary rounds involved all participating teams arguing the hypothetical case four times: twice as Applicant and twice as Respondent. The rounds are held separately in English, French and Portuguese and panels of judges made up of law lecturers (faculty representatives) and other human rights law experts. Scores were awarded based on the following criteria:
The scores were verified and audited by Mr Edouard Jacot Guilarmod, Member of the Advisory Board of the Centre for Human Rights and Chartered Accountant. After the perusal of the score sheets by participants, the finalists who were proceeding to the final round were announced.
The finalists were:
Anglophone:
Francophone:
Lusophone:
On 21 September, Moot participants and faculty representatives spend the day at Le Morne Beach which is located at the peninsula on the West Coast of Mauritius at the foot of the historical Morne Brabant Mountain listed as one of the World’s heritage sites by UNESCO. Both the organisers of the moot and staff of the Centre for Human Rights on the other hand spend the day at the majestic Ile aux cerfs, an island known for its beauty and tranquility.
The conference was opened by Judge Lucy Asuagbor, Commissioner and Special Rapporteur, on the rights of women in Africa of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights and Prof Frans Viljoen Director of the Centre for Human Rights. There were two sessions which brought together academics, human rights experts and law students from across the African continent. The following papers were delivered at the conference:
Session 1
Session 2
The final round of the 26th African Human Rights Moot Court Competition was held at Sir Harilal Vaghjee Hall in Port Louis, Mauritius. The following eminent personalities served as judges:
His Excellency Mr Paramasivum Pillay Vyapoory G.O.S.K. Vice-President of the Republic of was also in attendance at the final round of the Moot Court Competition.
Applicant team:
Respondent team:
As the ultimate tour de force of the Moot Court Competition, students in the final displayed a high level of knowledge and skills, displayed great dexterity in answering judges’ questions, dodged their traps and even challenged some of the judges in return.
Judges recessed in order to deliberate and, on their return, offered advice and observations to the students. They mentioned how impressed they were by the high quality of the arguments, the depth of research and the interesting arguments put forward.
The winners were the respondents.
The results of the Moot Court Competition are verified by an independent auditor, Mr Edouard Jacot Guillarmod, a Chartered Accountant. The following results are a summary of the top achievers in the Preliminary Rounds:
English: Top 10 Teams
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