Ukraine’s First Major International Humanitarian Law Tournament for School Students Held in Lviv Region

A unique competition for students in grades 9–11 of general secondary education institutions was held in the Lviv region, organised by the Ukrainian Red Cross with the support of the Educational and Scientific Law Institute of Vasyl Stefanyk Precarpathian National University. A total of 12 student teams from across Ukraine took part.

Participants in the 2025 tournament had the opportunity to demonstrate their knowledge of international humanitarian law (IHL) in the roles of speaker, opponent, or reviewer. Debates focused on issues such as the principles of conducting hostilities, the protection of civilians during armed conflict, accountability for war crimes, and the use of distinctive emblems, among others.

The overall winner of the tournament was the THEMIS student team from Kharkiv. First-place diplomas were also awarded to the Masters of Justice team from Ivano-Frankivsk, the Warriors of Light team from Rivne, and another Kharkiv team, True Crime. We warmly congratulate the winners and invite all participants to join the conference “The Right to Childhood: Challenges for IHL in Modern Warfare,” which aims to limit violence during war for the sake of humanity. This tournament was not about competition, but about friendship and an intellectual engagement with an important topic.

The overall winner of the tournament was the THEMIS student team from Kharkiv. First-degree diplomas were also awarded to teams from Ivano-Frankivsk, Rivne, and another team from Kharkiv. We warmly congratulate the winners and invite all participants to join the conference “The Right to Childhood: Challenges for IHL in Modern Warfare.” We thank all teams and their mentors for their active participation and engagement in international humanitarian law, which aims to limit violence during war for the sake of humanity.

The organisation of this tournament by the Ukrainian Red Cross represents a timely initiative to engage young people in discussion and the development of effective solutions in the field of IHL. The event has the potential to become a valuable annual tradition, bringing together concerned Ukrainian youth, IHL experts, and members of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement.