The competition, the first of its kind in Lebanon, was organised by the Agence Universitaire de la Francophonie (AUF) and its École Doctorale de Droit du Moyent-Orient (EDDMO), in partnership with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Regional Bureau for Education in the Arab States and the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) from March 21 to 23 at the UNESCO Office in Beirut.
It aimed to highlight refugee rights and related legislation in the Middle East and to involve participants in carrying out focused research on the existing refugee-related legal frameworks. Masters and PhD law students were asked to debate a fictional case in front of a highly specialised jury composed of judges and law practitioners, arguing the different legal and procedural aspects related to refugee rights.
The participating universities from Lebanon and Egypt included the Lebanese University, the Beirut Arab University, Cairo University, Ain Shams University, Alexandria University, and the Holy Spirit University of Kaslik.
The Moot Court competition, which fell within the framework of festivities organised for the 2016 “Francophonie” month, also included a seminar on refugee law, led by law professionals and academics from around the world. The seminar focused on the obligations of signatory and non-signatory states to the convention on the rights of refugees and the conventions and legal instruments supporting refugees’ right to education.
“We are proud to take part in this very important event that deals with a very sensitive topic for Lebanon, Egypt, and the Arab world in general,” UNESCO Representative Doctor, Hegazi Idriss, said. He also praised the very successful partnership with both AUF and NRC, hoping for this seminar to constitute a true milestone in raising awareness about the laws and rights of refugees in the region.
NRC’s Information, Counselling and Legal Assistance (ICLA) Specialist, Julia Herzog-Schmidt, highlighted the significance of this event with regard to NRC’s mandate, to ensure that refugee rights are respected, including through the provision of comprehensive legal support to refugees.
“We are particularly happy to assist in organising this first Moot Court that deals with refugees’ rights in the region,” she said.
“The event is doubly important for us. On one hand, this is the first Moot Court competition on refugee law organised in the region and, secondly, it is an especially sensitive theme at the national, regional and international levels,” stated Mr. Hervé Sabourin, Director of the Middle East Office of the AUF.
The winning team from the Holy Spirit University of Kaslik (USEK), who engaged in a heated debate with students from Cairo University on the last day of the competition, was selected by a high-level five-person jury consisting of law professors, UNHCR legal advisors, Lebanese Ministry representatives, and representatives of the Dutch and Norwegian Embassies. The three-person winning team will spend three days with NRC’s Jordan office and in the field with the ICLA team.
