Nelson Mandela World Human Rights Moot Court Competition

17/07/2026

Today marks the culmination of the 18th Nelson Mandela World Human Rights Moot Court Competition.

Following an inspiring week the competition reaches its conclusion with the Championship Round in Geneva.

We congratulate our finalists, Midlands State University (Zimbabwe) and Strathmore University (Kenya), on their outstanding achievements and wish them every success as they compete for the title.

The Centre for Human Rights, is proud to celebrate the dedication, professionalism and commitment demonstrated by every participant throughout this year's competition.

We look forward to crowning the champions of the 18th edition.

Open Society Foundations | Global Campus of Human Rights | Geneva Academy of International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights| United Nations Human Rights | University of Pretoria | UP Law

17/07/2026

The Final is set!

Congratulations to Midlands State University University represented by Prince Tinokunda Mafigu and Ruth Fadzai Jokonya andcoached by Claudios Makwara.

Strathmore University represented by Ivan Joe Kiriga and Sagal Ahmed Mohamed and coached by Emmanuel Macharia and Allan Mukuki.

These teams go head-to-head in the Finals to determine the champions of the 18th Nelson Mandela World Human Rights Moot Court Competition.

Open Society Foundations | Global Campus of Human Rights| Academy on Human Rights and Humanitarian Law | UN Human Rights Council | UP Law | University of Pretoria

16/07/2026

The Final Four are set.

After fiercely contested rounds, four teams have secured their place in the Semi-finals of the 18th Nelson Mandela World Human Rights Moot Court Competition.

Congratulations to:
National Law School University of India (India 🇮🇳 )
West Bengal National University of Juridical Sciences (India 🇮🇳 )
Strathmore University (Kenya 🇰🇪 )
Midlands State University (Zimbabwe 🇿🇼 )

Open Society Foundations | Global Campus of Human Rights | Geneva Academy of International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights | United Nations Human Rights | University of Pretoria, UP Law.

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16/07/2026

From powerful pleadings to unforgettable moments, the Nelson Mandela World Human Rights Moot Court Competition is more than just a competition, it is where the next generation of human rights advocates come together to learn, connect, and inspire change.

Here's a glimpse of the unforgettable moments from Geneva🇨🇭.

Open Society Foundations | Global Campus of Human Rights | Geneva Academy of International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights | UN Human Rights Council | UP Law | University of Pretoria

16/07/2026

The road to the championship continues!The Top 8 teams have been confirmed.

The universities advancing to the Quarterfinals:

The University of New South Wales (UNSW) (Australia 🇦🇺 )
National Law School University of India (India 🇮🇳 )
West Bengal National University of Juridical Sciences(India 🇮🇳 )
Kenyatta University(Kenya 🇰🇪 )
Strathmore University(Kenya 🇰🇪)
Universidad Nacional de Colombia (Colombia 🇨🇴)
Universidad Autónoma de Coahuila (Mexico 🇲🇽)
Midlands State University (Zimbabwe 🇿🇼)

Congratulations to all the advancing teams, and best wishes for the Quarterfinals.

Open Society Foundations | Global Campus of Human Rights | Geneva Academy of International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights | UN Human Rights Council | UP Law | University of Pretoria

15/07/2026

As the international human rights system faces growin challenges, this year's Nelson Mandela Human Rights Lecture will explore one of the defining issues of our time: "Waning Multilateralism and the Threat to International Human Rights Law."

The lecture will be delivered by Dr George Ulrich, Academic Director of the Global Campus of Human Rights, and will feature insightful responses from Dr Bertrand Ramcharan and Mona Rishmawi, with Prof. Manfred Nowak serving as moderator.

Bringing together leading scholars, practitioners, diplomats and students, the lecture will examine the future of multilateralism, the resilience of international human rights institutions, and the responsibility of the next generation of human rights advocates to defend the universality of human rights.

Date: 15 July 2026
Time: 16:00–18:00 (CET)
Venue: UNHCR Global Headquarters, Geneva, Switzerland

Hosted by the Centre for Human Rights, Faculty of Law, University of Pretoria in partnership with the South African Permanent Mission to the United Nations and other International Organisations in Geneva, the UN Human Rights Council Secretariat, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, and the Geneva Academy of International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights, as part of the 18th Nelson Mandela World Human Rights Moot Court Competition.

The Nelson Mandela World Human Rights Moot Court Competition presents The Seventh Annual Nelson Mandela Human Rights Lecture “Waning Multilateralism and the Threat to International Human Rights Law” presented by the Centre for Human Rights, Faculty of Law, University of Pretoria, in partnersh...

14/07/2026

The competition is heating up in Geneva!

After an intense day of five preliminary round sessions, the field has now been narrowed to the Top 16 teams, who have secured their place in the Third Advanced Rounds of the Competition.

Congratulations to the universities advancing to the next stage:

🇦🇷 Universidad Austral (Argentina)
🇦🇺 University of New South Wales (Australia)
🇧🇴 Universidad Católica Boliviana 'San Pablo' (Bolivia)
🇰🇭 Royal University of Law and Economics (Cambodia)
🇨🇦 St. Thomas University (Canada)
🇨🇴 Universidad Nacional de Colombia (Colombia)
🇮🇳 National Law School University of India (India)
🇮🇳 West Bengal National University of Juridical Sciences (India)
🇰🇪 Kabarak University (Kenya)
🇰🇪 Kenyatta University (Kenya)
🇰🇪 Strathmore University (Kenya)
🇲🇽 Universidad Autónoma de Coahuila (Mexico)
🇹🇷 Koç University (Türkiye)
🇺🇦 Ukrainian Catholic University (Ukraine)
🇬🇧 University of Oxford (United Kingdom)
🇿🇼 Midlands State University (Zimbabwe)

As the competition moves into the Third Advanced Rounds, we wish all the participating teams the very best as they continue their pursuit of excellence.

13/07/2026

The 18th Nelson Mandela World Human Rights Moot Court Competition officially begins today in Geneva, Switzerland. We are delighted to welcome participating students, faculty representatives, judges, and partners from across the world for a week of legal advocacy, intellectual exchange, and meaningful engagement with international human rights law. We wish all participating teams every success and a memorable World Moot experience.

09/07/2026

The Centre for Human Rights, University of Pretoria, in partnership with the South African Permanent Mission to the United Nations, the Human Rights Council Secretariat, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, the Geneva Academy of International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights, and other international organisations in Geneva, invites you to the Seventh Annual Nelson Mandela Human Rights Lecture on "Waning Multilateralism and the Threat to International Human Rights Law."

The lecture will provide a critical examination of the impact of waning multilateralism on the protection and enforcement of international human rights law, bringing together leading experts to reflect on the challenges confronting international human rights institutions and the responsibility of safeguarding the international human rights system.

Date: 15 July 2026
Time: 16:00–18:00
Venue: UNHCR Global Headquarters, Rue de Montbrillant 94, 1201 Geneva, Switzerland (Room MBT 04)

04/06/2026