Moot Courts

Presentation of the moot courts during orientation week Presentation of the moot courts during orientation week

As part of the curriculum, our LLM students can participate in the Jean-Pictet Competition on international humanitarian law (IHL). They also participate in two public pleadings as part of the IHL core course given by Professor Marco Sassòli.

Taking the Law out of the Books: the Jean-Pictet Competition

The Jean-Pictet Competition is recognized as the leading IHL competition and one of the most innovative training programmes for students in public international law. This week-long event tests students on their knowledge of and ability to implement IHL, as well as other branches of international law, through role-playing exercises based on a hypothetical armed conflict scenario. The dynamic structure of the Competition encourages participants to consider IHL issues from various perspectives while allowing the jury to evaluate each team's theoretical knowledge, practical understanding, and presentation style.

LLM and MTJ students can participate following a competitive selection process carried out by a Geneva Academy jury. For selected students, participation replaces two optional courses and can be validated for 6 ECTS. They are coached by our Teaching Assistant Mina Radončić.

In 2016 the Geneva Academy team won this prominent IHL moot for the first time.

Public Pleadings

As part of the IHL core course, all LLM students participate in public pleadings on specific conflict situations like the Gaza conflict in the summer of 2014 or the 2008 South Ossetian conflict.

Teams are assigned specific roles and plead, in front of a jury, on concrete issues related to the conflict. These include the classification of conflict and applicable law; classification of territory and persons; killing and destruction of property; use of weapons and precautionary measures during ground and air offensives; targeting of persons; detention of prisoners by armed forces and armed groups.

Benjamin Greenacre, Anamika Pillai and Rodanthi Violaki in the park surrounding Villa Moynier News

Our 2023 Pictet Team

13 February 2023

Benjamin Greenacre, Anamika Pillai and Rodanthi Violaki will represent the Geneva Academy at the 40th Edition of the Jean-Pictet Competition that will take place from 25 February to 4 March 2023 in Durrës, Albania.

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Helmer Jonelid and Edward Millett in front of Villa Moynier entrance News

Mandela Moot Court: Geneva Academy Team Reaches the Final Rounds

20 June 2022

The Geneva Academy team at the 2022 Mandea Moot Court – Helmer Jonelid and Edward Millett – qualified for the final rounds of the competition that will take place in Geneva from 18 to 21 July 2022.

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LLM students pleading on the 2008 South Ossetia armed conflict in front of the jury News

LLM Students Plead on the 2008 War between Russia and Georgia

24 May 2022

Half of the class of our LLM in International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights – 26 students – pleaded on 21 May at Villa Moynier on the 2008 South Ossetia armed conflict between Russia and Georgia.

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LLM students have been participating in the Jean-Pictet competition since the beginning of the programme as it gives them exposure to concrete cases and allows them to put into practice what they are learning in class.

Robert Roth

Former Director of the Geneva Academy and Professor at the University of Geneva