The second Arab Human Rights Moot Court Competition concluded recently, bringing together 48 students from 15 universities across 11 Arab countries. Organised by the United Nations Training and Documentation Centre for South-West Asia and the Arab Region in partnership with the School of Social Sciences and Humanities at the Doha Institute for Graduate Studies, the event aimed to enhance participants’ understanding of human rights issues and strengthen their advocacy skills through a simulated judicial environment.
The competition focused on developing practical skills related to international human rights law, utilizing exercises aligned with relevant global standards. Eligible participants included third- and fourth-year undergraduate students as well as master’s candidates enrolled in law faculties and human rights programmes.
This year’s competition featured universities from Qatar, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Libya, Morocco, Palestine, Syria, Tunisia, the United Arab Emirates, and Yemen. It provided a platform for young legal scholars to exchange knowledge and expertise, while engaging directly with human rights litigation mechanisms at a regional level.
Dr. Abeer al-Khairisa, director of the United Nations Training and Documentation Centre, highlighted the event’s role in promoting ongoing youth engagement with human rights. She noted that the diverse participation of 15 teams from 11 countries fostered significant cross-border dialogue and empowered students to contribute actively to advancing human rights culture in the Arab region.
Dr. Ayah Randall, head of the Human Rights Program at the Doha Institute, described the competition as an opportunity to bridge academic theory with the practical demands of legal advocacy. She emphasized the importance of training students in legal analysis, argumentation, and critical thinking, preparing them to navigate complex cases and employ both regional and international mechanisms for justice.
The event concluded with the announcement of the winning teams. The Doha Institute for Graduate Studies secured first place, followed by Cairo University in second. The competition is seen as part of broader efforts to nurture a new generation of Arab human rights professionals equipped to uphold justice and the rule of law.