Celebrating 25 Years of the Inter-American Human Rights Moot Court Competition
The Academy on Human Rights and Humanitarian Law is proud to celebrate 25 years of the Inter-American Human Rights Moot Court Competition. The Competition is a unique trilingual (English, Spanish and Portuguese) event designed to enlighten and instruct students and legal practitioners on how to utilize the Inter-American system to tackle human rights abuses. From its inception in 1996 to date, the Competition has evolved to become a global forum for scholarly engagement on frontline human rights issues in the Americas and beyond. Over the past 25 years, the Competition has featured more than 4800 participants from over 50 countries, across 360 Universities. The experiences of faculty at the Washington College of Law about their own involvement and role in the Inter-American System; and the start of the Moot Court Competition are closely connected. Four of the Washington College of Law’s current faculty were former Presidents of the Inter-American Human Rights Commission. A number of other faculty members are engaged with the Inter-American System as former Assistant Secretary’s, ad-hoc Judges, lawyers, and in a number of other roles within the Inter-American Human Rights Commission.
Despite the fact that during this 25th celebration some aspects of the Competition have changed to take form virtually, our commitment to encouraging opportunities for law students from across the Americas and the globe to gain expertise in the Inter-American human rights legal system continues during the ongoing crisis. The commitment of all participants: team members, coaches, judges, observers, and bailiffs to make the 2020 Competition and 25th Anniversary of the Competition a truly special event, continues even in uncertain circumstances. Now is the time more than ever to use new platforms and to bring together students and human rights advocates to continue to discuss the most pressing human rights issues for our time.
The theme for the 25th celebration of the Inter-American Human Rights Moot Court Competition is "Rule of Law and Human Rights: Strengthening Democratic Institutions" and speaks to the challenges democratic institutions in Latin American face as a result of authoritarian policies and practices and how International law can address these issues using the human rights system. The hypothetical case was written by Katya Salazar and Ursula Indacochea, Executive Director and Head of the Judicial Independence Program respectively, at the Due Process of Law Foundation.
Over the past 25 years, the Inter-American Human Rights Moot Court Competition has brought together human rights advocates from the United Nations, Amnesty International, Inter-American Human Rights Commission, the Inter-American Court of Human Rights and the Center for Justice and International Law amongst other notable organizations as judges, observers, and hypothetical case authors. Throughout the Competition’s history, noted jurists as U.S. Supreme Court Associate Justice Stephen G. Breyer and the former President of Honduras Carlos Reina have headed the Honor Panel of the Final Round.
See below a list of the past 25 Competitions from 1996 to 2020 including the various cases that were created for the Competition, hypothetical case authors, the honor panel of judges, as well as the winning university teams from each year.
Congratulations and thank you to all! Through your commitment, you have helped this Competition to truly become an inspiration for future lawyers to be better members of the legal profession and committed citizens in the local and global communities to which they belong.
HISTORY OF THE INTER-AMERICAN MOOT COURT COMPETITION
|
Inter-American Human Rights Moot Court Competition 2019 |
|
|
Dates: |
May 19 – 24, 2019 |
|
Theme: |
The Protection of Migrants under International Human Rights Law |
|
Hypo Case title |
Case of Gonzalo Belano and 807 Other Wairan Persons v. Republic of Arcadia |
|
Hypo Case Author(s): |
Álvaro Botero Navarro, The Committee on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers (CMW) and the Inter-American Commission of Human Rights (IACHR) |
|
1st Place Winners: |
FGV Direito SP - Estéfany Rocha Monteiro and Luíza Castelo Vieira |
|
2nd Place Winners: |
Universidade Estadual do Norte do Paraná - Mikael de Oliveira Waiss and Júlia Dinah Vaz Gonçalves |
|
Link to Hypo Case: |
|
|
Link to Final Round Video: |
|
|
Final Round Honor Panel |
Paulo Abrão, Álvaro Botero, Claudia Martin, Jimena Rodriguez, Anita Sinha |
|
Inter-American Human Rights Moot Court Competition 2018 |
|
|
Dates: |
May 20-25, 2018 |
|
Theme: |
Gender Violence and International Human Rights Law |
|
Hypo Case title |
María Elena Quispe and Mónica Quispe v. Republic of Naira |
|
Hypo Case Author(s): |
Julissa Mantilla Falcón, Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú |
|
1st Place Winners: |
Universidad Católica de Santa María, Adriana Martínez Carrasco and Paola Andrea Macedo Leiva |
|
2nd Place Winners: |
Colegio Mayor de Nuestra Señora del Rosario - Angélica Suárez Torres and Angie Daniela Yepes García |
|
Link to Hypo Case: |
https://www.wcl.american.edu/impact/initiatives-programs/hracademy/moot/2018/hypothetical-case-eng/ |
|
Final Round Honor Panel |
Diego Rodríguez-Pinzón, Joy-Dee Davis Lake, Julissa Mantilla Falcón, Miguel Barboza Lopez, Nienke Grossman |
|
Inter-American Human Rights Moot Court Competition 2017 |
|
|
Dates: |
May 21-26, 2017 |
|
Theme: |
Emerging Challenges in the Relationship between International Humanitarian Law and International Human Rights Law |
|
Hypo Case title |
Ricardo Madeira et al. v. Republic of Zircondia |
|
Hypo Case Author(s): |
Eric Tardif, International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) |
|
1st Place Winners: |
Universidad Externado de Colombia - Andrea Yulieth Lloreda Flores and María Camila Vega Salazar |
|
2nd Place Winners: |
Universidad de San Martín de Porres, Sarah Fernanda Meneses Pajuelo and Jheimy Leonardo Ubillús Segura |
|
Link to Hypo Case: |
https://www.wcl.american.edu/impact/initiatives-programs/hracademy/moot/2017/hypothetical-case-eng/ |
|
Final Round Honor Panel |
Robert K. Goldman, Claudia Martin, Mariel Ortega, Susana SáCouto, Eric Tardiff |
|
Inter-American Human Rights Moot Court Competition 2016 |
|
|
Dates: |
May 22-27, 2016 |
|
Theme: |
Extractive Industries and Human Rights |
|
Hypo Case title: |
Edmundo Camana et al., Pichicha and Orífuna peoples v. Santa Clara |
|
Hypo Case Author(s): |
Katya Salazar Luzula and Daniel Cerqueira, Due Process Foundation Law (DPFL) |
|
1st Place Winners: |
Universidad Sergio Arboleda, Silvana Puccini Montoya and Yessika Morales |
|
2nd Place Winners: |
Faculdade de Direito da Fundação Escola Superior do Ministério Público - Ana Carolina Campara Brittes and Fernanda Madalosso Guimarães |
|
Link to Hypo Case: |
https://www.wcl.american.edu/impact/initiatives-programs/hracademy/moot/2016/hypothetical-case-eng/ |
|
Final Round Honor Panel |
Elizabeth Abi-Mershed, Daniel Cerqueira, David Hunter, Claudio Grossman, Diego Rodríguez-Pinzón, Katya Salazar |
|
Inter-American Human Rights Moot Court Competition 2015 |
|
|
Dates: |
May 17-22, 2015 |
|
Theme: |
Transitional Justice, International Human Rights and Humanitarian Law |
|
Hypo Case title: |
Bolt et al. v. the Cardenal Republic |
|
Hypo Case Author(s): |
Nelson Camilo Sánchez León and Rodrigo Uprimny Yepes, Dejustici |
|
1st Place Winners: |
Universidade de São Paulo - Luisa Weichert and Bernardo de Souza Dantas Fico |
|
2nd Place Winners: |
Pontifícia Universidade Católica - Rio de Janeiro, Maria Luisa Saboya and Felipe Salathé Rogoginsky |
|
Link to Hypo Case: |
https://www.wcl.american.edu/impact/initiatives-programs/hracademy/moot/2015/hypothetical-case-eng/ |
|
Final Round Honor Panel |
Iris Yassmin Barrios Aguilar, Robert Goldman, Claudio Grossman, Viviana Krsticevic, Claudia Martin, Juan Mendez, Felix Paz Moreno, Rodrigo Uprimmy Yepes, Jose Miguel Vivanco |
|
Inter-American Human Rights Moot Court Competition 2014 |
|
|
Dates: |
May 18-23, 2014 |
|
Theme: |
Persons with Disabilities and International Human Rights Law |
|
Hypo Case title: |
Cristal Tovar v. Democratic Republic of Exclutia |
|
Hypo Case Author(s): |
Emilio Álvarez, Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) |
|
1st Place Winners: |
University of the West Indies, Cave Hill - Amanda Montague and Ori Kublalsingh |
|
2nd Place Winners: |
Universidade Federal da Paraíba - Centro de Ciências Jurídicas - Marcella Ribeiro d'Avila Lins and Daniel de Macedo Soares |
|
Link to Hypo Case: |
https://www.wcl.american.edu/impact/initiatives-programs/hracademy/moot/2014/hypothetical-case-eng/ |
|
Final Round Honor Panel |
Emilio Álvarez Icaza Longoria, Breno Dias da Costa, Robert Dinerstein, Alison A. Hillman, Maria Soledad Perez Tello, Diego Rodríguez-Pinzón, Eric Rosenthal, Stephen Vasciannie |
|
Inter-American Human Rights Moot Court Competition 2013 |
|
|
Dates: |
May 19-24, 2013 |
|
Theme: |
Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Intersex (LGBTI) Rights |
|
Hypo Case title: |
Serafina Conejo Gallo and Adriana Timor v. Elizabetia |
|
Hypo Case Author(s): |
Víctor Madrigal-Borloz and Silvia Serrano, Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) |
|
1st Place Winners: |
Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio de Janeiro (PUC-Rio) - Bernardo Kaiser and Paulo Henrique Tavares |
|
2nd Place Winners: |
Universidad De San Martin de Porres, Alexandra Cabrera Sánchez and Apodemio Paul Salcedo Paulino |
|
Link to Hypo Case: |
https://www.wcl.american.edu/impact/initiatives-programs/hracademy/moot/2013/hypothetical-case-eng/ |
|
Final Round Honor Panel |
Hunter T. Carter, Ciro Colombara, Breno Dias da Costa, Robert K. Goldman, Victor Madrigal, Claudia Martin, José de Jesús Orozco Henriquez, Andrea Rodriguez-Zavala, Macarena Saez |
|
Inter-American Human Rights Moot Court Competition 2012 |
|
|
Dates: |
May 20-25, 2012 |
|
Theme: |
Indigenous Rights |
|
Hypo Case title: |
Chupanky Community et al. v. LA Atlantis |
|
Hypo Case Author(s): |
Jorge Calderón, Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) |
|
1st Place Winners: |
Universidad Marista de Merida A.C., Montserrat Peniche Hijuelos and Maria Fernanda Fitzmaurice Cahluni |
|
2nd Place Winners: |
Colegio Mayor de Nuestra Señora del Rosario, Natalia Suárez Sánchez and Natalia Mora-Arbelaez |
|
Link to Hypo Case: |
https://www.wcl.american.edu/impact/initiatives-programs/hracademy/moot/2012/hypothetical-case-eng/ |
|
Final Round Honor Panel |
Diego García Sayán, José de Jesús Orozco Henriquez, Robert K. Goldman, Viviana Krsticevic, Fergus MacKay, Jorge Calderón, Namiko Matzumoto, Diego Rodríguez-Pinzón |
|
Inter-American Human Rights Moot Court Competition 2011 |
|
|
Dates: |
May 22-27, 2011 |
|
Hypo Case title: |
Richardson, Unzué et al. v. Juvenlandia |
|
Hypo Case Author(s): |
Mary Beloff, Universidad de Buenos Aires |
|
1st Place Winners: |
Universidad Católica Andrés Bello, Rolando Ignacio Seijas and Manuel Andrés Casas |
|
2nd Place Winners: |
Pontificia Universidad Católica de Argentina, Karina Graciela Carpintero and Belen Eliana Donzelli |
|
Link to Hypo Case: |
https://www.wcl.american.edu/impact/initiatives-programs/hracademy/moot/2011/hypothetical-case-eng/ |
|
Inter-American Human Rights Moot Court Competition 2010 |
|
|
Dates: |
May 23-28, 2010 |
|
Hypo Case title: |
Radical Radio et al. v. Chirilagua |
|
Hypo Case Author(s): |
Nelson Camilo Sánchez León, Dejusticia; and Catalina Botero Marino, Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) |
|
1st Place Winners: |
Universidad Diego Portales, Valentina Maturana and Sylvana Mariangel |
|
2nd Place Winners: |
Universidad Autónoma de Santo Domingo, Freddy Elias Cabrera and José Angel Alcántara |
|
Link to Hypo Case: |
https://www.wcl.american.edu/impact/initiatives-programs/hracademy/moot/2010/hypothetical-case-eng/ |
|
Inter-American Human Rights Moot Court Competition 2009 |
|
|
Dates: |
May 17-22, 2009 |
|
Hypo Case title: |
Rosalie Fournier and Bruno Tamba v. Tynalandia |
|
Hypo Case Author(s): |
Santiago Cantón and Daniela Salazar, Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) |
|
1st Place Winners: |
Universidad Veracruzana (Mexico), Luis Eliud Tapia Olivares & Gabriela Carreón Lee |
|
2nd Place Winners: |
Universidad Católica Andrés Bello (Venezuela), Eduardo Trujillo & Manuel Polanco H. |
|
Link to Hypo Case: |
https://www.wcl.american.edu/impact/initiatives-programs/hracademy/moot/2009/hypothetical-case-eng/ |
|
Inter-American Human Rights Moot Court Competition 2008 |
|
|
Dates: |
May 18-23, 2008 |
|
Hypo Case title: |
Arizmendi et al. v. Chuqui |
|
Hypo Case Author(s): |
Pablo Saavedra Alessandri, Inter-American Court of Human Rights |
|
1st Place Winners: |
Universidad San Martin de Porres (Peru), Hugo Torres Armas & Jenny Isabel Vento Curi. |
|
2nd Place Winners: |
Universidad de la Sabana Facultad de Derecho (Colombia), María del Pilar Gutierrez & Jose Emilio Lemus Mesa. |
|
Link to Hypo Case: |
https://www.wcl.american.edu/impact/initiatives-programs/hracademy/moot/2008/hypothetical-case-eng/ |
|
Inter-American Human Rights Moot Court Competition 2007 |
|
|
Dates: |
May 20-25, 2007 |
|
Hypo Case title: |
Rosa Luna v. Republic of Azar |
|
Hypo Case Author(s): |
Viviana Krsticevic, Centre for Justice & International Law |
|
1st Place Winners: |
Universidad Nacional de Cuyo (Argentina); Romina Laura Ronda & Analía Laura Zanessi |
|
2nd Place Winners: |
Colegio Mayor de Nuestra Señora del Rosario (Colombia); Ana Maria Navarrete Frias & Carlos Mauricio Lopez Cardenas. |
|
Link to Hypo Case: |
https://www.wcl.american.edu/impact/initiatives-programs/hracademy/moot/2007/hypothetical-case-eng/ |
|
Inter-American Human Rights Moot Court Competition 2006 |
|
|
Dates: |
May 21-26, 2006 |
|
Hypo Case title: |
Juana Olin vs. Iberoland |
|
Hypo Case Author(s): |
Ariel Dulitzky, |
|
1st Place Winners: |
Universidad Nacional de Cuyo (Argentina); Andrés Javier Rousset Siri & Daniel Enrique Rodríguez Infante |
|
2nd Place Winners: |
Universidad de los Andes (Colombia); Alejandro Jiménez & Polonia Forero |
|
Link to Hypo Case: |
https://www.wcl.american.edu/impact/initiatives-programs/hracademy/moot/2006/hypothetical-case-eng/ |
|
Inter-American Human Rights Moot Court Competition 2005 |
|
|
Dates: |
May 22-27, 2005 |
|
Hypo Case title: |
Blanco et al v. Republic of Belor |
|
Hypo Case Author(s): |
Brian Tittemore, Inter-American Commission on Human Rights |
|
1st Place Winners: |
Pontificia Universidad Javariana; Alberto Mario Páez Bastidas & María Alejandra Brijaldo Acosta |
|
2nd Place Winners: |
Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais; Daniel Lopes Cerqueira & Fabrício Araújo Prado |
|
Link to Hypo Case: |
https://www.wcl.american.edu/impact/initiatives-programs/hracademy/moot/2005/hypothetical-case-eng/ |
|
Inter-American Human Rights Moot Court Competition 2004 |
|
|
Dates: |
May 23-28, 2004 |
|
Hypo Case title: |
Cine, Felanuma, et al vs. the State of Esmeralda |
|
Hypo Case Author(s): |
Osvaldo Kreimer, Inter-American Commission on Human Rights |
|
1st Place Winners: |
University of West Indies; Ky-Ann Lee & Conway Blake |
|
2nd Place Winners: |
Universidad de los Andes; María José Veramendi Villa & Paula Andrea Avila Guillén |
|
Link to Hypo Case: |
https://www.wcl.american.edu/impact/initiatives-programs/hracademy/moot/2004/hypothetical-case-eng/ |
|
Inter-American Human Rights Moot Court Competition 2003 |
|
|
Dates: |
May 18-23, 2003 |
|
Hypo Case title: |
Valencia et al v. Liberté |
|
Hypo Case Author(s): |
Juan Pablo Alban Alencastro and Elizabeth Abi-Mershed, Inter-American Commission on Human Rights |
|
1st Place Winners: |
Universidad Externado de Colombia; Nicolás Carrillo Santarelli & Manuel Yasser Paez Ramirez |
|
2nd Place Winners: |
Pontificia Universidad Javeriana; Mónica Inés Hernández Gómez & Juana Inés Acosta López |
|
Link to Hypo Case: |
https://www.wcl.american.edu/impact/initiatives-programs/hracademy/moot/2003/hypothetical-case-eng/ |
|
Inter-American Human Rights Moot Court Competition 2002 |
|
|
Dates: |
May 19-24, 2002 |
|
Hypo Case title: |
Williams et al. V. State of Buenaventura |
|
Hypo Case Author(s): |
Elizabeth Abi-Mershed, Mario López, Inter-American Commission on Human Rights |
|
1st Place Winners: |
Universidad Nacional de Colombia |
|
2nd Place Winners: |
Universidad La Salle, AC |
|
Link to Hypo Case: |
https://www.wcl.american.edu/impact/initiatives-programs/hracademy/moot/2002/hypothetical-case-eng/ |
|
Inter-American Human Rights Moot Court Competition 2001 |
|
|
Dates: |
May 20-25, 2001 |
|
Hypo Case title: |
Pagura Workers’ Union et al. v. Alta Caledonia |
|
Hypo Case Author(s): |
Victor Abramovich, Center for Legal and Social Studies, Argentina |
|
1st Place Winners: |
Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Facultad de Derecho, Ciencias Políticas y Sociales; Jomary Liz Ortegón Osorio & Oscar Javier Parra Vera |
|
2nd Place Winners: |
Universidad Católica de Santiago de Guayaquil, Facultad de Jurisprudencia; Oswaldo Zavala-Giler & Xavier Flores Aguirre |
|
Link to Hypo Case: |
https://www.wcl.american.edu/impact/initiatives-programs/hracademy/moot/2001/hypothetical-case-eng/ |
|
Inter-American Human Rights Moot Court Competition 2000 |
|
|
Dates: |
May 22-26, 2000 |
|
Hypo Case title: |
Victoria Riel Guevara et al. v. Alboria |
|
Hypo Case Author(s): |
Brian Tittemore and Veronica Gómez, Inter-American Human Rights Commission |
|
1st Place Winners: |
Universidad Externado de Colombia; Julia María Rubiano de la Cruz & Carolina Duque Torres |
|
2nd Place Winners: |
Universidad Nacional de Tucumán; Valentina García Salemi & Fernanda Doz Costa |
|
Link to Hypo Case: |
https://www.wcl.american.edu/impact/initiatives-programs/hracademy/moot/2000/hypothetical-case-eng/ |
|
Inter-American Human Rights Moot Court Competition 1999 |
|
|
Dates: |
May 24-29, 1999 |
|
Hypo Case title: |
Alejandro Pérez (“Alejandro Mayta”) v. the Republic of Miranda |
|
Hypo Case Author(s): |
Christina Cerna, Inter-American Commission on Human Rights |
|
1st Place Winners: |
Universidad Nacional de Tucumán; Anibal Anaquin & Vanessa Isabel Lucero |
|
2nd Place Winners: |
Universidad de Buenos Aires; Vanesa Gabriela Borgoña & Julio Bacio Terracino |
|
Link to Hypo Case: |
https://www.wcl.american.edu/impact/initiatives-programs/hracademy/moot/1999/hypothetical-case-eng/ |
|
Inter-American Human Rights Moot Court Competition 1998 |
|
|
Dates: |
May 18-22, 1998 |
|
Hypo Case title: |
Rómulo Estrada v. Ithaka |
|
Hypo Case Author(s): |
Isabel Ricupero, Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights |
|
1st Place Winners: |
Universidad de Buenos Aires; Leonardo G. Filippini & Maria Cecilia Piñeiro |
|
2nd Place Winners: |
University of Florida College of Law; Rusten Hurd & Cynthia Lee |
|
Link to Hypo Case: |
https://www.wcl.american.edu/impact/initiatives-programs/hracademy/moot/1998/hypothetical-case-eng/ |
|
Inter-American Human Rights Moot Court Competition 1997 |
|
|
Dates: |
May 19-24, 1997 |
|
Hypo Case title: |
Cecilia Herold, et al. v. Pacifica |
|
Hypo Case Author(s): |
Elizabeth Abi-Mershed, Inter-American Commission on Human Rights |
|
1st Place Winners: |
Universidad Nacional de Tucumán; Maria Elisa Gallo & Aldo Federico Caliari |
|
2nd Place Winners: |
Universidad Nacional de la Plata; |
|
Link to Hypo Case: |
https://www.wcl.american.edu/impact/initiatives-programs/hracademy/moot/1997/hypothetical-case-eng/ |
|
Inter-American Human Rights Moot Court Competition 1996 |
|
|
Dates: |
May 28-June 1, 1996 |
|
Hypo Case title: |
Sybille Olivera v. Marelle |
|
Hypo Case Author(s): |
Claudia Martin – Inter-American Human Rights Digest |
|
1st Place Winners: |
Universidad Diego Portales; Nicolas Espejo Yaksic & Alvaro Jana Linetzky |
|
2nd Place Winners: |
University of Maryland; Mike Stoghill & Fernando Carpio, and Hamline University; Colleen Beebe & Claudia Saavedra. |
|
Link to Hypo Case: |
https://www.wcl.american.edu/impact/initiatives-programs/hracademy/moot/1996/hypothetical-case-eng/ |