Asia-Pacific law students compete in HK moot court

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Law students from 18 countries and regions across the Asia Pacific are testing their knowledge of international humanitarian law at the 16th Red Cross Moot Court Competition in Hong Kong from March 7 to 10.

Participants and judges in ICRC international humanitarian law moot court competition. /CGTN photo

Zhou Wen, head of the Legal Department of ICRC (International Committee of the Red Cross) Regional Delegation for East Asia said, “This annual event, together with the national and local rounds held across the Asia-Pacific region, aims to raise awareness of international humanitarian law among university students and to stimulate their research interest.

“We hope that the competition not only tests the skills of law students as future legal practitioners and decision makers, but also opens a door for them to the humanitarian world.”

This year, the problem is set in the context of climate change and involves new technology weapons, attack on fishing boats with displaced persons and the protection of medical transports at sea. Students will act as counsels of both the Prosecution and the Defence, and debate on a fictional case before a simulated International Criminal Court.

Participants debate in general rounds at HKU. /CGTN photo

To foster discussions on practical humanitarian issues, an exploration activity will be held at the Humanitarian Education Centre in the Hong Kong Red Cross headquarters, where students will assume different roles in a simulated war zone, such as detainees, prison guards and refugees.

Students from 18 countries and regions across the Asia Pacific take part in the moot court competition. /CGTN photo

The international humanitarian law moot court competition is an annual event co-organized by the International Committee of the Red Cross and the Hong Kong Red Cross, in collaboration with the Chinese University of Hong Kong and the University of Hong Kong.

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