USAID's AMDEP
a group of Afghan lawyers from across the country completed advanced training in media law in preparation for this year’s Media Law Moot Court.
Today, a select group of Afghan lawyers from across the country completed advanced training in media law in preparation for this year’s Media Law Moot Court. The lawyers who completed their training today will serve as teachers and mentors on media law in their provinces, training journalists on the subject and serving as mentors for law students who are preparing to compete in this year’s Media Law Moot Court.
This year’s Media Law Moot Court builds on the successes of last year’s inaugural competition. Beginning in March, USAID partners will provide legal training and support to students from seven participating universities, increasing their understanding of media law and providing them with practical experience working on the subject.
Trainer Toby Mendel stated, “The group was very engaged and active in the discussion. They demonstrated increasing understanding with each day of training.”
Teams participating in Moot Court analyze a legal problem and conduct extensive research on the relevant laws, culminating in written submissions (commonly referred to as Memorials) and the presentation of oral pleadings during the preliminary and final rounds of the competition. Moot Court participants develop a substantive understanding of legal principles; build their confidence in public speaking; collaborate with professors, practitioners, and judges in a rewarding environment; and gain practical skills that can have a positive impact on their career.
Training participant, Monir Ahmadi, expressed, “This type of training provides us with the opportunity to learn more about international standards in freedom of expression. This knowledge will help us to improve Afghan media law.”
Expanding students’ knowledge of national and international law is critical to supporting a free and independent media sector in Afghanistan. The Moot Court competition exposes students to media law and policy issues, including privacy, freedom of expression, defamation, and regulation of the media. It also increases their familiarity with international conventions, including the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR).
In addition to the practical and educational benefits, Mooting is a fun activity that gives participants a chance to meet like-minded individuals seeking pursuing a career in law. The Media Law Moot Court is being organized by Internews, DPK, Nai, and the Media Law Defense Committee.
Participating universities will receive their cases and the rules for the Moot Court competition on May 1. Teams will then submit their Memorials no later than August 1. The competition itself will be held over three days in late September.
This week’s training-of-trainers was hosted by USAID grantee, Nai Supporting Open Media in Afghanistan and run by Toby Mendel, an international human rights expert. Mr. Mendel serves as Executive Director of the Centre for Law and Democracy, a non-governmental organization that provides legal expertise on the right to information, freedom of expression, the right to participate, and the rights to assembly and association.
2013 01 31 Press Release - Media Law Training in Preparation for Moot Court (English)