The 2025 IBA ICC Moot Court Competition (Moot Court or ‘Competition’) has begun in The Hague with welcoming and opening remarks by International Bar Association (IBA) President-Elect Claudio Visco and International Criminal Court (ICC) Judge Kimberly Prost. It is the 12th Competition hosted by the IBA in conjunction with the ICC. Organised by the Grotius Centre for International Legal Studies at Leiden University, the Competition is taking place from 11–18 June.

During Judge Prost’s opening remarks on 11 June, she stressed the importance of the IBA ICC Moot Court Competition in building the expertise of future international lawyers in seemingly critical times for the ICC and the Rome Statute system.

ICC Judge Kimberly Prost said: ‘It’s amazing to see the vision behind this event, such an important initiative in the field of international criminal law, bringing together different jurisprudences and delegations. This Moot Court offers a valuable opportunity to learn, practice, and grow, helping you become highly qualified practitioners in international criminal law. It also serves as a platform to exchange ideas focused on the work of international criminal law and the ICC. This is truly imperative, you are the generation that must carry this mission forward. And truly, what better mechanism for complementarity than the collaboration taking place in this very room?’

As in previous years, the IBA provided scholarships to facilitate the participation of teams from various legal institutions around the world. This year, scholarships were awarded to teams from the Kathmandu School of Law in Nepal; Université La Sagesse in Lebanon; NALSAR University of Law in India; the University of Chile; and the University of Nairobi in Kenya.

During the opening ceremony Mr Visco welcomed more than 400 international students from 45 countries to the Competition, which simulates ICC proceedings and involves competitors presenting legal arguments in the positions of prosecution, defence and victims’ counsel. The format aims to draw attention to the crucial work the ICC does to protect the rule of law, provide justice for victims and contribute to ending impunity of perpetrators of egregious crimes: genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity and the crime of aggression. Participating in the Competition are 88 teams with 22 teams debuting.

Mr Visco has said that: ‘The IBA ICC Moot Court Competition brings together students aiming at becoming judges or lawyers of different backgrounds and cultures from across the world to simulate the judicial proceedings of the ICC. It is an incredible opportunity for students of law to develop their skills in legal practice at the Court itself, as well as network with their peers and exchange experiences with ethnicities they may not have encountered if not for the Competition. It is wonderful to see the next generation of international lawyers being brought together in this way by the IBA and ICC in respect of protecting the rule of law.’

Claudio Visco’s full address can be read here.

Dr Carsten Stahn, Professor of International Criminal Law and Global Justice at Leiden University and Chair of the IBA ICC Moot Court Competition Organising Committee stated: ‘In times of attacks on the foundations of international law, the impartiality of international criminal justice, and repeated threats and sanctions against the ICC, it is more necessary than ever to educate future generations of lawyers and create consciousness about the role and principles of international law. With its global reach, and its diversity, involving teams from all over the world, including countries that are not parties to the Rome Stature, the IBA ICC Moot is an important cornerstone to promote dialogue and enhance commitment to international justice, fairness, and equality before the law in an interconnected world.’

The ceremony also included remarks from Ms Mariëlle Vavier, Deputy Mayor of The Hague and Professor Michael P Scharf, Associate Dean for Global Legal Studies of Case Western Reserve University School of Law and Chair of the IBA ICC Moot Court Competition Board of Advisors.

Each year, the Competition focuses on a fictitious case that illustrates relevant issues of international law. In the 2025 case, The Prosecutor v Arrix Vragar Situation in The Republic of Northeros, participating students will consider the possibility for the Court to adjudicate the crime of ‘gender apartheid’ – the systematic discrimination of individuals based on gender – as a crime against humanity and questions related to the application of the ICC’s jurisdiction ratione personae, which means the judgement over individuals rather than states or businesses by the court.

Performances will be assessed by more than 200 legal professionals, including many IBA members, who will serve as judges and evaluators during the competition. The final round of the competition will be held on 18 June in a courtroom at the ICC, presided over by ICC Judge Bertram Schmitt.

In addition to the networking and social events, Competition participants can also take advantage of academic side activities. Part of this year’s academic roster will be Just Peace Festival in The Hague – an annual event that brings international institutions closer to society and its needs by inviting citizens, thinkers, doers and artists and integrating exhibitions, films, music and dance.

ENDS

Notes to the reader:

1. The IBA ICC Moot Court Competition consists of a written round and an oral round. Participating teams submit written memorials that are assessed by external expert evaluators, in advance of the final rounds of the competition, which take place in The Hague.

2. At the beginning of 2021, the IBA and Grotius Centre of Leiden University signed a new memorandum of understanding, which positioned the IBA as the primary supporting partner of the event and renaming it the IBA ICC Moot Court Competition.

3. The International Criminal Court (ICC) investigates and, where warranted, tries individuals charged with the gravest crimes of concern to the international community: genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity and the crime of aggression. The Court is participating in a global fight to end impunity, and through international criminal justice, the Court aims to hold those responsible accountable for their crimes and to help prevent these crimes from happening again. The Court cannot reach these goals alone. As a court of last resort, it seeks to complement, not replace, national courts. Governed by an international treaty called the Rome Statute, the ICC is the world’s first permanent international criminal court.

4. The International Bar Association (IBA), the global voice of the legal profession, is the foremost organisation for international legal practitioners, bar associations and law societies. Established in 1947, shortly after the creation of the United Nations, it was born out of the conviction that an organisation made up of the world's bar associations could contribute to global stability and peace through the administration of justice.

5. The IBA commenced the International Criminal Court and International Criminal Law (ICC & ICL) Programme in 2005. Since its establishment, the IBA ICC & ICL Programme has contributed to the development of international criminal justice through monitoring and analysing issues related to fairness and equality of arms at the ICC, and through conducting outreach to deepen the understanding of the place of the ICC within the broader landscape of international justice and in particular contexts. The Programme works to increase cooperation with and support for the ICC and other accountability efforts, with the goal of strengthening the Rome Statute system globally and achieving fair, effective, and accessible justice for victims of genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes, and aggression.

   The Programme also acts as the interface between the Courts and the global legal community. As such, special focus is placed on monitoring emerging issues of particular relevance to lawyers and collaborating with key partners on specific activities to increase engagement of the legal community on ICC and ICL issues.

   Based in The Hague, the IBA ICC & ICL Programme consults and engages with court officials, state representatives, civil society organisations, academics, and international lawyers.

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