Children’s Rights
Moot Court 2017
Leiden, 29-31 March
Welcome
Dear Participants of the Children's Rights Moot Court 2017,
Leiden Law School, the Department of Child Law and the Grotius Centre for International Legal Studies wish you a
warm welcome to Leiden for the 2017 edition of the Children’s Right Moot Court (CRM). The competition was initiated
by Leiden Law School in 2014 at the occasion of the 25th Anniversary of the United Nations Convention on the Rights
of the Child (CRC), the most extensively ratified human rights treaty in the world, with the aim to offer students an
opportunity to engage with each other in an international moot court concerning complex and highly topical children’s
rights matters. Not only does this stimulate critical legal thinking, it also enables students to acquire knowledge on international children’s rights and to develop essential legal and practical skills.
We are delighted and proud that this year’s edition of the CRM attracted 12 teams, more than 75 children’s rights
academics and professionals, from the four corners of the globe. We therefore want to take the opportunity to thank,
first and foremost, you - for being part of this edition and for all the hard work you have done in the last months, and
your coaches and universities for their support. Furthermore, we would like to express our gratitude to the courts,
tribunals and the several universities and law firms that have allowed their staff to take part as judges in the competition.
A special thanks also to all the judges who have donated their time and efforts, both during this week and beforehand
during the assessment of the written memorials. They are an essential part of this competition. Lastly, we would like to
thank Dr. Mark Klaassen, assistant professor at the Institute of Immigration Law of Leiden Law School, for drafting an
extremely interesting and challenging case.
Finally, we encourage everyone involved or participating in the CRM 2017 to voice all suggestions or comments to us, to
help improve your experience.
We hope this week will be unforgettable and wish you all the best of luck!
On behalf of the organizing team,
Prof. Dr. Ton Liefaard
UNICEF Professor of Children’s Rights
Programme Director LL.M Advanced Studies in International Children’s Rights
Discover the world at Leiden University
Programme
Tuesday 28 March
Thursday 30 March
17:00
09:30 - 11:00
11:45 - 13:15
13:15 - 14:15
14:15 - 15:45
18:00 - 19:00
Registration and Welcome
@ KOG
Wednesday 29 March
09:30 - 11:00
11:45 - 13:15
13:15 - 14:15
14:15 - 15:45
20:00 - 22:00
Session I @ Leiden Observatory
Session II
Lunch
Session III
Movie Night @ KOG
Session I @ Leiden Observatory
Session II
Lunch
Session III
Reception and Announcement
Finalists @ Leiden Observatory
Friday 31 March
14:00 - 15:30
15:30 - 16:00
16:00
16:30
Finals @ Child Rights Home
Coffee/Tea Break
Award Ceremony
Reception
Participants
University of Antwerp
Annelien Stijleman
Nora Soliman
Cédric Vandekeybus
Louise Janssens Stefan Rutten
Wouter Vandenhole
Tsinghua University
Jiarui Li
Beining Wang
Amina Zamulina
Weijing Shan
Han Liu
J. J. Strossmayer University
Neven Grigić
Ana Jović
Ana-Marija Hampovčan
Marija Kokanović
Branka Rešetar
Nataša Lucić
Gujarat National
Law University
Tanishtha Vaid
Vedika Pareek
Varun Srinivasan
Symbiosis Law School
Siddhesh Pradhan
Aishwarya Amar
Anisa Bawari
Namita Gupta
The West Bengal National
University of Juridical Sciences
Anushka Mehrotra
Dakshita Chopra
Sidharth Sharma
Vishal Hablani
School of Law,
Trinity College Dublin
Anna Hayes
Shonottra Kumar
Alexandra Wrede
Nikolaos Kandilas
Strathmore University
Law School
Francis Njoroge Wanjiku
Cynthia Jade Makori
Ivy Omondi
Sylvia Muiruri
Allan Munyao Mukuki
Discover the world at Leiden University
Leiden University I
Lisa van Zelm
Lise-Milou Lagerwerf
Yuri Torres
Friederike Pöschl
Kartica van der Zon
Daniella Zlotnik
Leiden University II
Klarisse Estorninos Estorninos
Marit Buddenbaum
Sean Yau
Sabrina Molendijk
Anca Simona Florescu
University of Pretoria
Tinotenda Kakora
Thomas White
Zita Mulambo Hansungule
Thandeka Khoza
University of Cambridge
Fiona Lin
Weishi Yang
Myrto Colocassides
Yen Jean Wee
Call for applications
Frontiers of Children’s Rights Summer School
5th edition, 3 - 7 July 2017
Frontiers of Children’s Rights provides a comprehensive children’s rights course, which takes a close look at contemporary
children’s rights issues from a legal perspective accompanied by reflections from other academic disciplines, legal systems, local
perceptions and realities. The summer school, held at the beautiful premises of Leiden Observatory and in The Hague, the
International City of Peace and Justice, offers inspiring and interactive lectures and seminars by leading academics and
professional experts in the field of children’s rights and international law.
Themes
• Juvenile Justice
• Children’s Rights and Migration
• Children’s Rights and Digital Technologies
• Children in Armed Conflict
• Children in Alternative Care and Institutions
• Children’s Rights and Climate Change
• Children’s Rights and Business Principles
• Children’s Rights in the Region
Special Features
• Keynote by Mr. Benyam Dawit Mezmur, Chair of the UN Committee of the Rights of the Child
• Excursion to a youth detention centre
• Excursion to the International Criminal Court in The Hague
• Canal boat tour through the historic city of Leiden
Application and fees
Target audience: advanced graduate students and young professionals. Tuition fee: € 900. Discount fee for
Children’s Rights Moot Court participants: € 750 (including course materials, lunches, refreshments, field trips, a
canal boat tour, a dinner at the beach and a certificate of participation). Application deadline: 1 June 2017. More
information and application: summerschool.universiteitleiden.nl
Student testimonials
“The intellectual food! A delight! I felt inspired by the high quality lectures which always ended too quickly. It
was fun and I did not get bored one single minute”
“There was a good balance between academic information provided for and field experience shared with the
participants; we were welcomed with an excellent hospitality and everything was very well organized”
Judges and Evaluators
The Memorial Evaluators and Oral Round Judges acted/will be acting in their personal capacity.
Dr. Azza O. Abdelmoneium, Family Institute
Ms. Delecia Leigh Adams, University of the Western Cape Law Clinic
Dr. Joshua N. Aston, Symbiosis International University
Judge Paola Bernini, District Court of The Hague
Dr. Viola Bex-Reimert LL.M., University of Groningen,
Ms. Laura Bosch LL.M., Defence for Children ECPAT Netherlands
Ms. Ágnes Bruszt LL.M., Ministry of Justice of Hungary, Department of Human Rights
Ms. Alexandra-Dana Crisan, Lawyer/Legal Officer
Ms. Ritambara Das, Symbiosis Law School, Symbiosis International University
Ms. Elena Deliran, Hofzicht Advocaten
Prof. Ellen Desmet, Faculty of Law, Ghent University, Belgium
Drs. Ranesh Dhalganjansing, Law Firm Dhalganjansing
Dr. Jozef H.H.M. Dorscheidt, University of Groningen
Mr. Ron van Duffelen, COA
Dr. Dunja Duić, Faculty of Law Osijek, Croatia
Mr. Karim Eshragh, Legal Expert
Dr. Claire Fenton-Glynn, University of Cambridge
Mr. Elvis Fokala, Institute for Human Rights, Åbo Akademi University
Ms. Ingeborg Galama LL.M., Child Protection Council of the Netherlands
Ms. Lotte Haasnoot-Kersten LL.M., Ministry of Security and Justice
Mr. Arthur Hanna, Bahamas Bar Association
Dr. Rajab Ali Hassan, College of Law and Political Sciences, University of Duhok/ Kurdistan - Iraq
Dr. Simon Hoffman, Swansea University and Wales Observatory on Human Rights of Children and Young People
Judge Ivana Hrdličková, Special Tribunal for Lebanon
Ms. Willemijn Jansen LL.M., Law firm, Van Doorne
Ms. Marije Jeltes, JSTW Advocaten/Council for the Administration of Criminal Justice and Protection of Juveniles
Ms. Majorie Kaandorp, UNICEF The Netherlands
Ms. Akemi Kamimura, Ministry of Human Rights
Ms. Gift Kgomosotho, University of Pretoria
Dr. Ariella (Ariel) Rosita King, Ariel Foundation International
Mr. Stefan Kok LL.M., Institute of Immigration Law, Leiden University
Dr. Sunitha Krishnan, Prajwala
Ms. Afua N N Lael-Allotey, Lawyer
Ms. Salona Lutchman, Faculty of Law, University of Cape Town
Dr. Elizabeth Macharia-Mokobi, University of Botswana
Ms. Shriya Maini, Surpreme Court of India & Delhi High Court
Ms. Katharine Marsden, UN Mechanism for International Criminal Tribunals, Office of the Prosecutor, Appeals Division
Ms. Astrid Martalas, Private practice psychologist
Discover the world at Leiden University
Dr. Panos Merkouris, University of Groningen
Mr. Laurens Mol, Ministry of Security and Justice
Ms. Zahra Mousavi, The Hague University of Applied Sciences
Ms. Jonneke Naber, Netherlands Institute for Human Rights
Ms. Ellen Nissen, Centre for Migration Law & Institute for Sociology of Law, Radboud University Nijmegen
Drs. Annette Olland LL.M., Judge, District Court of The Hague
Judge Raul Pangalangan, International Criminal Court
Dr. K. Parameswaran, Gujarat National Law University
Ms. Eszter Párkányi, University of Leeds
Ms. Coosje Peterse LL.M., SKE Advocaten Den Haag
Prof. Tunjica Petrašević, Faculty of Law, Josip Juraj Strossmayer University in Osijek
Mr. Johan E. Polet, Simmons & Simmons LLP
Ms. Esther Polhuijs, UNICEF The Netherlands
Mr. Jacobus Marnus Pozyn, Bisset Boehmke McBlain Attorneys
Ms. Ronelle Prinsloo, Legal Expert
Dr. Bijaya Prakash Sainju, Concern for Children & Environment Nepal (CONCERN)
Dr. Stephanie Rap, Leiden Law School. Leiden University
Prof. Robbie Robinson, Faculty of Law, North West University Potchefstroom Campus, South Africa
Ms. Aurélie Roche-Mair, International Bar Association
Dr. Daniel Ruhweza, Makerere University
Ms. Jeanette Satink, Leiden Law School, Leiden University
Mr. Robert G. Schwartz, Juvenile Law Center
Ms. Anne Scully-Hill, Associate Professor, The Chinese University of Hong Kong
Dr. Asima Shirazi, University of Wollongong in Dubai
Drs. Tessa Smets Msc., Stichting Kinderpostzegels Nederland
Dr. Veronica M. Smits LL.M., Tilburg University
Ms. Milka Sormunen, University of Helsinki
Mr. William St-Michel, International Criminal Court, Presidency
Dr. Ian Sumner, District Court Overijssel, Location Almelo
Mr. Ward Tardjopawiro, COA
Ms. Nantina Tsekeri, Glasgow University School of Law and Defence for Children International-GR
Prof. Kai TU, Tsinghua University
Mr. Ernst van Bemmelen van Gent, Utrecht University/Hague University/Law Firm
Ms. Graciela van Doornum LL.M., Immigration and Naturalisation office
Drs. Judith van Ravenstein, LL.M., Judge, District Court of The Hague
Ms. Edith van Ruitenbeek LL.M., Van Hilten Advocaten & Mediators The Hague - Amsterdam
Mr. Bernard Verbunt, Simmons & Simmons LLP
Dr. Yvonne Vissing, Center for Childhood & Youth Studies, Salem State University, Salem Massachusetts USA
Prof. dr. Nevena Vučković Šahović, Faculty of Law, UNION University, Belgrade, Serbia
Mr. Leonid Walter Dunn, Child Rights Foundation
Ms. Ayla Yayla LL.M., Inholland, University of Applied Sciences, Faculty of Law
Children’s Rights Moot Court Competition 2017
Organizing Office:
Grotius Centre for International Legal Studies
Turfmarkt 9, 2511 DV The Hague
[email protected]
Pictures © UNICEF