Trinity College Dublin team wins 2013 Human Rights Moot Court Competition

Strasbourg, 27.02.2013 - Students from Trinity College Dublin (Ireland) were declared winners of the first edition of the European Moot Court Competition in English on the European Convention of Human Rights, after beating a team from Essex University (United Kingdom) in the final round. The best orator prize was awarded to Joanna Kisielinska from Torun University (Poland) and the best written submissions prize to the team from Trinity College Dublin.

The final round took place at the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg on 27 February and its jury, made up of prominent figures, including judges of the Court and academics, was chaired by Ms Nina Vajic, former Judge and President of Section at the European Court of Human Rights. (more...)

First European Human Rights Moot Court Competition in English

The Council of Europe hosts the final round of the first European Moot Court Competition in English on the European Convention on Human Rights. Sixteen university teams from thirteen countries (Czech Republic, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Greece, Ireland, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Turkey, Ukraine, UK) have been selected following the written round of the competition. The final round is taking place at the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg.

The competition simulates the procedure of complaints to the European Court of Human Rights. 120 teams from 31 European countries have competed in a fictive case concerning the ‘sterilization of pregnant HIV women in Orosia'. The16 selected teams will argue their case in front of panels of experts, relying on the European Convention on Human Rights and its Protocols and following the procedures applied in the European Court of Human Rights. The winning university team is awarded a traineeship at the Court.

The Moot Court Competition aims at giving law students, who represent future lawyers or judges, practical experience on the European Convention on Human Rights and its implementation.

The competition is organised by the European Law Students Association (ELSA) with the support of the Council of Europe.

Several countries from the Council of Europe have financially contributed to the organisation of this first competition in particular Ireland, Andorra and Poland.

List of finalists

Country                University
  • Czech Republic         The Charles University Prague
  • Estonia                        Tartu University
  • Finland                         University of Helsinki
  • France                         Université Paris 2 Panthéon-Assas
  • Georgia                       Tbilisi State University
  • Greece                        National and Kapodistrian University of Athens
  • Ireland                        Trinity College Dublin (
  • Poland                        Nicolaus Copernicus University, Torun
  • Poland                        University of Warsaw
  • Romania                    West University of Timisoara
  • Serbia                         University of Novi Sad / University of Nis
  • Turkey                        Fatih University Istanbul
  • UK                                University of Essex  / University of Warwick
  • Ukraine                      National University of "Kyiv-Mohyla Academy"