Students from Herat, Balkh, Al Biruni, and Nangarhar Universities started competing in the USAID-funded Afghan National Rounds of the Jessup International Moot Court Competition in Kabul today. 

For three consecutive days, Afghan students will showcase their written and oral advocacy skills as they debate in English on three key issues: the legality of the destruction of a cultural site, who may represent a nation after a coup d’etat, and government responsibility for military action. The teams will be judged by the panel made up of prominent international and Afghan legal experts. The final round of the competition will be held at Afghanistan’s Supreme Court on Wednesday, January 11. 

The Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition is the world's largest moot court competition, with participants from over 500 law schools in more than 80 countries.  The Competition, now in its 53rd year, poses a fictional dispute between countries before the International Court of Justice. 

Each year that Afghanistan has participated in this international competition, it has brought home a prize. In past years, Afghan students have won the ”Spirit of Jessup” award and have also been ranked among the “Top 100 Oralists” in the competition.  Last year, Team Administrator Ghulam Reza Mohammady won the Steven M. Schneebaum Outstanding National Administrator Award, which recognized his efforts in successfully organizing Afghanistan’s national competition. 

USAID's Rule of Law Stabilization Program, Formal Component, which facilitates this event, is designed to develop the human and institutional capacity of the justice sector, increase the public's access to justice, and promote the public's demand for robust rule of law environment in Afghanistan.

2012.01.07 Press Release Jessup Moot Court Start (English)

2012.01.07 Press Release Jessup Moot Court Start (Dari)

2012.01.07 Press Release Jessup Moot Court Start (Pashto)