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.

Pleadings on the 2008 armed conflict in South Ossetia News

LLM Students Address IHL Issues Arising from the 2008 Armed Conflict in South Ossetia

25 May 2023

Half of the class of our LLM in International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights – 20 students – pleaded on Sunday 20 May at Villa Moynier on the 2008 South Ossetia armed conflict between Russia and Georgia.

Read more >

LLM pleadings on the 2004 Gaza conflict News

LLM Students Take on the Challenge of Oral Advocacy on the 2014 Armed Conflict in Gaza

5 May 2023

As every year and in the framework of the IHL core course given by Professor Marco Sassòli, 16 students of our LLM in IHL and Human Rights pleaded on the 2014 armed conflict in and around Gaza.

Read more >

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.

Read more >

The Jean-Pictet experience encouraged me to learn the detail of IHL practice; of the policies and practices of key IHL actors and the debates surrounding contemporary IHL issues. We were well supported during the whole experience and I’ve made some lifelong friends.

Jemma Arman

Legal Advisor, International Committee of the Red Cross