The All-Ukrainian Student Competition on International Humanitarian Law 2024 Concludes
The Ukrainian Red Cross, together with partners within the International Movement, organised a competition on international humanitarian law (IHL) for students of Ukrainian higher education institutions. The competition aimed to provide students with an opportunity to gain knowledge of IHL, familiarise themselves with international instruments governing this area of law, and explore relevant case law.
The event programme included both written and oral components, as well as simulated practical scenarios. The oral stage took place from 22 to 24 November 2024 in Kyiv. This allowed participants to immerse themselves in the real-life situations faced daily by international humanitarian law professionals in Ukraine, providing them with valuable practical experience.
Participants of the Competition on IHL and the Event Programme
This year, 31 teams from across the country applied to participate in the competition. After the written tasks were evaluated, the top 8 teams were selected to advance to the oral stage. This highlights the immense potential of young people to develop and expand their knowledge of IHL.
The judging panel comprised experts in international humanitarian law, including professors, academics, university lecturers, prosecutors, and representatives from the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine. As part of the programme, the students had the opportunity to attend a lecture on “Humanitarian Diplomacy in an Era of Global Change” by Hugo Slim, a guest of honour, adviser to the British Red Cross, and Senior Research Fellow at Oxford University.
In his video address to the participants, Maksym Dotsenko, Director General of the Ukrainian Red Cross, emphasised:
“Today’s competition takes place at a time when knowledge of international humanitarian law is more relevant than ever. We face a long period ahead of us, during which Ukraine will work to restore justice for victims and ensure accountability for international war crimes. In this process, your role as young lawyers, researchers, and professionals will be crucial. We need people who are not afraid of difficult challenges, who are ready to analyse, adapt, and implement international humanitarian law in the Ukrainian context. You, the participants of today, will be the ones to shape the future of this vital field.”
The team from the State Tax University of Ukraine emerged as the winner of the All-Ukrainian International Humanitarian Law Moot Court Competition 2024.
The Organising Committee congratulates the winners and wishes them continued professional development in this important field. In addition to the awards for the finalists and winners, there were separate recognitions for the best performances in simulated situations, memoranda of prosecution and defence, and oratory. The judges and volunteers were also thanked for their judicious contributions and personal involvement in organising the event.
