WCL's 2013 ICC team. From left, Naida Henao, Bethanie Haynes, and Michelle Flash. |
International Criminal and Humanitarian Law Competitions
The War Crimes Research Office selects and coaches teams to represent WCL in two international criminal and humanitarian law competitions: the Jean-Pictet Competition and the Pace/ICLN International Criminal Court Moot.
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Jean-Pictet Competition
The War Crimes Research Office is seeking three students (2L, 3L, or LL.M.) who are interested in representing WCL in the 2013 Jean-Pictet Competition. Unlike a traditional moot court competition, Jean-Pictet is a week-long international humanitarian law exercise involving simulated diplomatic negotiations. It’s an excellent opportunity for students to immerse themselves in the study and practice of the laws of war and international criminal law, and to hone skills vital to the field of human rights, including negotiation, lobbying, and advocacy.
Jean-Pictet takes place in the spring and is held in a different city each year. Kanchanaburi, Thailand will host the 2013 edition. First held in 1989, the competition is named for Jean Pictet, a leading member of the International Committee for the Red Cross who played an integral role in the drafting of the Geneva Conventions. The competition takes place over one week, and two concurrent competitions are held, one in English and one in French. One winning team from each group is selected to participate in the final round of the competition. For more information about the competition, please visit www.concourspictet.org or see video of our recent information session at http://media.wcl.american.edu/Mediasite/Play/3b09172fbded4ef5af26eaa70eab045b1d .
Students with experience in international criminal or humanitarian law are particularly encouraged to apply for our team. Interested applicants should send us their name, year, resume, a description of any experience with international criminal / humanitarian law, and a short (500 word maximum) response to the following scenario and questions:
United Nations troops are sent to the scene of an armed conflict which one of the Parties declares to be an international conflict, whereas the other denies it that status. Soldiers of the United Nations armed forces are taken prisoner and ill-treated during interrogation. They are forced to make a confession stating that they were ordered to fly over enemy territory to spread bacteria over it. In reply to criticism in the press, the Detaining Power argues that the methods of interrogation used have saved lives by putting an end to such flights over its territory and the use of bacteriological weapons.
Does international humanitarian law apply? If so, has it been breached? If so, can anyone be held criminally responsible under international criminal law for any such breach?
Email your application to warcrimes@wcl.american.edu or drop it off at our office at 4301 50th Street NW, Suite 102. The deadline for applications is Friday October 26, 2012 at 5:00pm.
In past years, the WCL has been represented by the following teams:
The 2012 Competition
Federico Barillas, Shubra Ohri, and Jeremy Kelley represented the Washington College of Law at the 2011 competition in Winterton, South Africa.
The 2011 Competition
Megan Chapman, Tracey Begley, and Elinor Stevenson represented the Washington College of Law at the 2011 competition in Najac, France.
The 2010 Competition
Kay Marshall, Jenny Norako, and Kavita Kapur represented the Washington College of Law at the 20010 competition in Orford, Canada.
The 2008 Competition
Peter Chapman, Abdul Omar, and Nicholas Reddy represented Washington College of Law at the 2008 competition during April 19-26 in
Schwarzenburg, Switzerland,
The 2007 Competition
The 2007 competition was held in El Escorial, Spain, from April 14-21. Erin Louise Palmer, Robert Tanenbaum, and Ryan Vogel represented Washington College of Law.
WCL's 2006 Jean-Pictet team. From left, tutor Duncan Wilson, Katharine Brown, Christian De Vos, and Elizabeth "Ellee" Walker. |
The 2006 Competition
The 2006 competition was held in Vrnjacka Banja, Serbia and Montenegro, from March 4-11. WCL students Katharine Brown, Christian De Vos, and Elizabeth “Ellee”
Walker represented Washington College of Law. The team distinguished themselves, advancing to the semi-finals of the competition.
The 2005 Competition
The 2005 competition took place in Collonges-la-Rouge, France, from April 2-9. Jennifer Dorn, J.P. Henderson, and Kristen McGeeney represented Washington College of Law at the competition.
Pace/ICLN International Criminal Court Moot
The War Crimes Research Office has already selected candidates to represent WCL in the 2013 Pace Law School International Criminal Court (ICC) Moot Competition, Regional Round for the Americas and Caribbean, which will be held from March 1 – 3, 2013 in White Plains, NY.
The ICC Moot Competition requires teams to submit three short memorials (briefs) based on the three participants in ICC prosecutions—the prosecutor, the defense, and victims’ advocates. Each team will then participate in three rounds of oral arguments with the opportunity of arguing from all three perspectives. The two highest scored teams will advance to the finals in The Hague to compete against qualifying teams from other areas of the world.
For more information about the competition, please visit http://www.law.pace.edu/international-criminal-court-icc-moot-competition.
In past years, WCL has been represented by the following teams:
The 2012 Competition
The 2011 competition took place from February 10-12. WCL students Molly Hofsommer, Ivan Carpio, and Anna Taylor represented the Washington College of Law.
Molly Hofsommer was awarded Third-Place Runner-Up for the Government Counsel Memorial.
The 2011 Competition
The 2011 competition took place from January 28-30. WCL students Justin Shore, Aileen Thomson, and Zsofia Young represented the Washington College of Law. Aileen Thomson was awarded 2nd Best Prosecution Memorial and the team reached the semi-finals.
The 2010 Competition
The 2010 competition took place from January 29-31. WCL students Megan Haskins, Safina Lakhani, and Tanvi Zaveri represented the Washington College of Law. The team was awarded second place for Best Victims' Participation Memorial.
The 2009 Competition
The 2009 competition was held from February 16-20. WCL students Jennifer Norako, Eric Leveridge and Kavita Kapur represented the Washington College of Law. Jennifer Norako placed third for Best Defense Memorial, and Kavita Kapur received third place for Best Prosecution Memorial.
