University of Pretoria (UP) Faculty of Law students once again demonstrated their competitive capacity after winning the International Children’s Rights Moot Competition 2023, hosted by Leiden University in the Netherlands and law firm Baker McKenzie.

Muskaan Singh (speaker), ChaunD du Plessis (speaker), Yonela Vayo (researcher), Kimberlin Brink (researcher), Vedanta Ramasary (coach) and Gracie Sargood (coach) took centre stage on 28 June when they edged out students from Tashkent State University of Law, in Uzbekistan, in the final, which featured 140 students from 19 countries. Sargood said this would not have been possible without teamwork, hard work and dedication to representing UP and South Africa exceptionally on pertinent world issues including climate change, environmental protection, and children’s health and safety. 

“The moot was an eye-opening experience that showed us how crucial it is, with the impending climate crisis in mind, to consider children,” Sargood said. “Each team member needed to dig deep and find their own inspiration to win this competition. I think we all became engrossed in the details of the case, and in representing these hypothetical parties. As we needed to represent both sides, the applicant and respondent, it became a task of trying to create arguments that were as strong as those we had created for the other side of the matter.”

Vedanta Ramasary, Muskaan Singh, ChaunD du Plessis, Faculty of Law Dean Prof Elsabe Schoeman, Yonela Vayo, Gracie Sargood and Prof Ann Skelton, who is UNESCO Chair of Education Law in Africa at UP and Chairperson of the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child.

As first speaker, Singh tackled procedural aspects, while Du Plessis focused on substantive matters. Researchers Vayo and Brink formulated arguments, identified holes in the team’s logic and helped to strengthen the speeches. Coaches Ramasary and Sargood provided guidance to the team. 

“We would host regular benching sessions [to practise pleading], during which we would improve the style of the speakers in terms of pace, tone, inflection and wording, as well as the substantive quality of the arguments in terms of the logic, the law, the strength of the arguments and counter-arguments, and so forth,” Sargood said. “The speakers also had to be able to answer any question that the judges posed during the rounds. Additionally, we submitted two written memorials, each 10 000 words long, which every team member contributed towards.” 

“Coaching the team with Gracie has been one of the most fulfilling experiences,” Ramasary  said. “We were a team filled with passion, enthusiasm and playfulness. Winning the competition has not only instilled a deep appreciation for children’s rights and environmental law, but also confidence in our capabilities. I could not be more grateful to have had this journey with such exceptional individuals.” 

The team said the experience was wonderful, adding that they had become a tight-knit group and had built long-lasting friendships. They conceded that it was difficult to manage a moot alongside their studies but that they had created a system of constant, clear communication and support. The team wanted to be excellent from the get-go, which required hard work, time and dedication. As such, they met three to four times a week, during which time they brainstormed arguments, thoroughly discussed the applicable law and cases, and practised pleadings to iron out small imperfections. They also included breaks for fun team-building activities, which proved to be crucial.

“The one thing I took home from the competition is not to be afraid of not knowing – to always be open to learning and listening,” Vayo said. “I knew nothing about international law when we started, but now it is an aspect of law that I really enjoy! It is also now one of my favourite modules in third year.”

“Participating in the competition has been an incredibly transformative experience,” Du Plessis said. “It’s where passion met purpose, and our team’s unwavering dedication to advocating for children's rights found its voice. Throughout the competition, we were not just debating legal principles; we were championing the rights of the world's most vulnerable, ensuring that their voices were heard. Our victory stands as a testament to the power of commitment, collaboration and the pursuit of justice for those who need it most. This journey has strengthened our resolve to continue advocating for children's rights, making the world a better place for every child.”