2016-06-23

Respect for the rule of law and ending impunity for the perpetrators of the most serious crimes are among the important aims of international criminal law. To reach these aims, remarkable efforts have been taken in the international level.

This competition aims to promote awareness and understanding among law students. Simulating the courts proceedings provides opportunities for law students to become acquainted with the practical application and enforcement of International Criminal Court’s proceedings.

This year, the office of International Committee of the Red Cross in collaboration with the Iranian Association for United Nations Studies, Secretariat of the National Committee for International Humanitarian Law and Shahre- Danesh Institute of Law (SDIL) held the 2014 edition of the Henry Dunant Memorial Moot Court Competition on International Criminal Court’s proceedings on August 7 in the venue of auditorium Red Crescent Rehabilitation Complex.

After recitation of a few verses of the Holy Quran and the national anthem of the Islamic Republic of Iran the program commenced. Dr. Pouria Askary welcomed the attendees and expressed his gladness for the remarkable scientific level of participants. He explained to the attendees that a hypothetical case on international criminal law has been given to each team. He added that these teams would go before a bench composed of Iranian prominent jurists, once as the prosecutor and once as the lawyers of the hypothetical defendants.

Legal Knowledge, innovation and creativity in presentation, self-confidence and English proficiency are all among the criteria for assessment of the teams during the competition and each one of these abilities have its own marks.

This year’s edition was held with the presence of eight three-member teams. These teams went before two courts in two different places, one in the venue of Red Crescent’s conference hall and the other one in Museum’s hall.

The bench of the first court was composed of Dr. Mohammad-Reza Ziaei Bigdeli (Professor of Allameh Tabataba'i University), Dr. Bagher Shamloo (Professor of Shahid Beheshti University), Dr. Alireza Kazemi (Deputy Head of the International Department of Justice) and Dr. Siahrostami (Professor of the Faculty of Red Crescent). Dr. Ali Khaleghi (Professor of Tehran University), Dr. seyed Hossein Sadat Meidani (Professor of The School of International Relations), Dr. Fatemeh Keihanlu (Professor of Islamic Azad University, Karaj Branch) and Dr. Sadegh Salimi (Professor of Islamic Azad University, Central Tehran Branch) were the panel of Judges of the second court.

The competition has ended by introducing the first four team and one person as the best presenter (Mooter). Awards and prizes were awarded as well.

It is noteworthy to mention that the national winning team would participate in the competition of South East of Asia in the coming autumn, which Iran is hosting.

By winning the coming competition and reaching the semi-final round, the wining team would be dispatched to The Hong Kong Red Cross International Humanitarian Law Moot. The champion of this level would participate in the Jean-Picket world Competition.