Opening the competition on the eve of Nelson Mandela International Day (18 July), Ambassador Zaheer Laher, Permanent Representative of South Africa to the United Nations Office and other International Organizations in Geneva, recalled Nelson Mandela’s enduring conviction that “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.”
Addressing students, academics and human rights practitioners, Ambassador Laher reminded participants that Nelson Mandela Day is not only an opportunity to honour Madiba’s extraordinary legacy but also a call to action.
“It is a day that reminds us that each of us has the power and responsibility to make a difference. It is a day not only to remember Madiba’s extraordinary life, but to act in the spirit of service, dignity and the solidarity that Madiba embodied.”
He described the Moot Court Competition as a practical demonstration of how education equips young people to advance justice, noting that South Africa’s own history has shown that law, accountability and human rights are indispensable foundations for democratic societies.
The competition, presented in English, French and Spanish, is open to undergraduate and master’s students from universities around the world. Teams first submit written memorials on a hypothetical human rights case before competing in oral pleadings before panels of international judges, academics and human rights experts. The top fifty teams from the five United Nations regional groups advance to the preliminary oral rounds, while the twenty-four highest-ranked teams compete in the final in-person rounds hosted in Geneva.
This year’s competition culminated with the victory of Prince Tinokundu Mafigu and Ruth Fadzai Jokonya from Midlands State University, Zimbabwe, who were crowned winners of the eighteenth edition after outstanding performances throughout the competition.
The 7th Annual Nelson Mandela Human Rights Lecture
An important highlight of the programme was the 7th Annual Nelson Mandela Human Rights Lecture, held as part of the Moot Court Competition.
Under the theme “Waning Multilateralism and the Threat to International Human Rights Law,” the lecture examined the growing challenges confronting the international human rights system and the collective responsibility to safeguard its core principles.
The keynote address was delivered by Dr George Ulrich, Academic Director of the Global Campus of Human Rights, who explored the implications of weakening multilateral cooperation for the protection of human rights worldwide. His remarks were followed by insightful responses from Dr Bertrand Ramcharan and Mona Rishmawi, while the discussion was moderated by Prof. Manfred Nowak, Secretary General of the Global Campus of Human Rights.
Bringing together leading scholars, diplomats, practitioners and students, the lecture encouraged participants to reflect on the responsibilities shared by states, international organisations, civil society, academic institutions and future human rights advocates in defending the international legal order at a time of increasing geopolitical uncertainty.
The opening ceremony and the Nelson Mandela Human Rights Lecture are available to watch on UN Web TV, offering audiences worldwide the opportunity to follow the discussions and reflections that accompanied this year’s competition.
The Nelson Mandela World Human Rights Moot Court Competition is organised by the Centre for Human Rights, Faculty of Law, University of Pretoria, the Academy on Human Rights and Humanitarian Law of American University Washington College of Law, the Commonwealth Secretariat, and the United Nations Human Rights Council Branch of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR). The competition receives financial support from the European Union through the Global Campus of Human Rights, together with the Permanent Mission of Switzerland to the United Nations Office in Geneva, the South African Permanent Mission to the United Nations Office in Geneva, and the OHCHR Regional Office for Southern Africa.
The Global Campus of Human Rights congratulates all participating teams and, in particular, this year’s winners for their exceptional advocacy and commitment to human rights. It also extends its appreciation to the South African Permanent Mission, the United Nations Human Rights Council Secretariat, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, the Geneva Academy of International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights, and all partners whose continued collaboration makes this unique educational initiative possible.
Watch the Opening Ceremony and the 7th Annual Nelson Mandela Human Rights Lecture on UN Web TV: https://webtv.un.org/en/asset/k1j/k1jsib5dal