USAID/RLS-F

Moot Court Event participants.

USAID’s RLS–F Program assists the human and institutional capacity of the justice sector, increases the public’s access to justice, particularly women, and promotes the public’s demand for a robust rule of law environment in Afghanistan.  On March 1 and 2, the RLS-F Program orchestrated the Afghanistan Jessup Moot Court Competition.  Five universities from around Afghanistan sent student teams to compete in the International Jessup Moot Court Competition at the Kabul Appellate Court for the chance to represent Afghanistan at the international competition in Washington, D.C.  The competition was very close, with each team winning at least one round, and the two final teams, al Biruni and Kabul University tied going into the final round on the last day.  Students from several teams took home individual awards and the team from Kabul University was the overall champion team coming from the Shari’a Law Faculty and one of the few composed of two men and two women.

The Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition is the world's largest and most prestigious moot-court competition with teams from more than 500 law schools and 80 different countries.  Last year, Afghanistan’s champion team (al Biruni) was awarded the "Spirit of the Jessup Award," a recognition devoted to the team that best exemplifies the spirit of camaraderie, academic excellence, competitiveness, and the appreciation of fellow competitors.  The competition is an established methodology for law students around the world to hone their legal skills through head-to-head courtroom activities that require intensive study, preparation, critical thinking, and debating skills.

USAID/Afghanistan Program Highlights: 3/1/2011-3/15/2011