Respect for the rule of law and ending impunity for the perpetrators of the most serious crimes are among the important aims of the International Criminal Law. To reach these aims, remarkable efforts have been taken in the international level. 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 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. Pourya Askari welcomed the attendees and expressed his gladness for the remarkable scientific level of the participants. He explained 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 eleven three-member teams from Shahid Beheshti University, University of Tehran, University of Tarbiat Moddares, Allameh Tabataba'i University, The School of International Relations, Buali Sina University, Imam Sadiq University, Islamic Azad University Central Branch of Tehran, Islamic Azad University Damghan Branch. 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 the 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. Awards and prizes were awarded as well.
The first, third and fourth winning teams were from Shahid Beheshti University. The team from Allameh Tabataba'i University was announced as a second team.
Mr. Mohammad-Reza Abdollahi and Mrs. Nikzad were announced as the best mooter and as the best researcher respectively. As the best presenter of memorial, the team under the supervision of Dr. Ghasem Zamani and Dr. Heibatolah Nazhandimanesh was selected.