ICC - China University of Political Science and Law wins the ICC Trial Competition (Chinese version)

China University of Political Science and Law wins the ICC Trial Competition (Chinese version)

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Image ICC Judge Cuno Tarfusser (centre), ICC Associate Legal Officer Silvestro Stazzone (left) and ICC Associate Legal Officer Simon Grabrovec (right) with the winners of the ICC Trial Competition (Chinese version), representing China University of Political Science and Law, at the seat of the Court in The Hague © ICC-CPI

China University of Political Science and Law is the winner of the ICC Moot Court Competition – Chinese version. The final round was held today, 1 June 2012, in Courtroom I of the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague. The winning team is composed of (from left to right in above photo): Mr Guanqun Ge, Ms Ying Zhu, Ms Chenchen Liang, Coach Mr Lijiang Zhu and Mr Xinxiang Shi. China Foreign Affairs University and Peking University won, respectively, the second and third places. The award for the Best Speaker went to Ms Chenchen Liang from China University of Political Science and Law.

The teams competed before ICC Judge Cuno Tarfusser (presiding) and ICC Associate Legal Officers Silvestro Stazzone and Simon Grabrovec, on a fictitious case, presenting oral arguments during a confirmation of charges hearing in the roles of Prosecution, Defence and the Legal representative for victims. The final round of the ICC Trial Competition in Chinese was also web streamed live on the Court’s official website.

Following the decision rendered by the Chamber on the winners of the competition, the ICC hosted an awards ceremony for the winners and participants. Judge Tarfusser, Mr Stazzone and Mr Grabrovec delivered awards to the best teams and top speakers.

This year, 13 universities in China participated in the competition, where students put to the test their knowledge of the applicable law and jurisprudence of the ICC. The three top teams came to The Hague for a five-day study visit before the final competition at the ICC. During their time in The Hague, the students visited four other international criminal tribunals: the International Court of Justice (ICJ), the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY), the Special Court for Sierra Leone (SCSL) and the Special Tribunal for Lebanon (STL). The study visit offers to the students a unique opportunity to come together in an exciting setting and to meet with eminent personalities of the international law scene.

This version of the ICC Trial Competition is organised by Professor Yan Ling of the China University of Political Science and Law, with the institutional support of the ICC and the support of several institutions and organisations, including the Chinese Embassy in The Hague and the Royal Dutch Embassy in Beijing.

The Court is also supporting three other language versions of the ICC Trial Competition this year and hosting their finals in the ICC courtroom: English (27 April), Russian (1 June) and Spanish (22 June). It is envisaged that, in the medium and long term, the ICC Trial Competition will also be expanded, in cooperation with others, to the other official languages of the Court: French and Arabic.

Photos of the competition and awards ceremony are here.

For further information, please contact Fadi El Abdallah, Spokesperson and Head of Public Affairs Unit, International Criminal Court, by telephone at: +31 (0)70 515-9152 or +31 (0)6 46448938 or by e-mail at: [email protected].

You can also follow the Court’s activities on YouTube and Twitter.