Introduction

The Telders International Law Moot Court Competition passed its 30th milestone in 2007, and is still going strong. Since its humble beginnings in 1977, when only four universities took part, the Competition has today become the most prestigious and important moot court competition in Europe. Annually, teams from over 40 universities compete in the national rounds, with the successfully teams going on to represent their countries in the international rounds held at the Peace Palace in The Hague.

Competition

Through the Competition students are educated in legal practice and such principles as the rule of law, civil society and fair play. The Competition also stimulates team-work and European integration. Students and academics consider participation important, a great honour and a wonderful experience of a friendly and international competition never to be forgotten.Through the Competition students are educated in legal practice and such principles as the rule of law, civil society and fair play. The Competition also stimulates team-work and European integration. Students and academics consider participation important, a great honour and a wonderful experience of a friendly and international competition never to be forgotten.

Each year student-teams are presented with a case involving a fictitious dispute between two states. This dispute is put before the United Nations' most important legal organ, the International Court of Justice. It is up to the student-teams to defend the two states to the best of their ability. Each student-team has to represent the states substantively both in writing and through pleadings before so-called moot courts. Per European country, only the university winning the national rounds may participate in the international rounds held in The Hague. The students' memorials and pleadings are judged by legal experts. In this respect, the active involvement of judges from the real International Court of Justice, the Iran-United States Claims Tribunal, professors of law and ambassadors schooled in international law guarantee the high intellectual standards of the Competition and its prestige. The Competition is traditionally held at the Peace Palace in The Hague.

Professor B.M. Telders

The aim of the Telders Competition is to prolong the legacy of Professor dr. Benjamin Marius Telders, who became a professor of international law at Leiden University in 1937. Telders was intensely interested in why and how law operated. Being in many respects still undefined and interwoven with history and politics, international law was an excellent challenge. Professor Telders was respected for his sharp mind and had the honour to represent his country frequently, including before the Permanent Court of International Justice. Even during the Second World War, Telders stood up for his belief in the rule of law and civil society, and as a result was sent to the concentration camp at Bergen Belsen, where he later died in 1945.

Throughout its existence, the Telders Competition has enjoyed the support of several prominent members of the ICJ and the international legal world. The late Judge C-A. Fleischhauer, Judge Stephen M. Schwebel (ICJ) and Judge Gilbert Guillaume (former President, ICJ) have been Chairman of the Supervisory Board of the Competition. The present Chairman is Judge Kenneth Keith (ICJ).

Telders Case 2012

In 2012, the students will plead The case of North Manconia: When the President of a newly-independent State dies in mysterious circumstances, members of the minority ethnic group are blamed. Retribution is sought along ethnic lines, and genocide ensues. A DJ participates by inciting his listeners to eliminate members of the minority group. When peace returns to the country the DJ is appointed as a Minister in the new government. A third State later seeks to prosecute him for inciting genocide, and abducts him for this purpose. His government protests that such prosecution violates international rules on jurisdiction and immunity.

Grotius Centre for International Legal Studies

As of June 2004, the Telders International Law Moot Court Competition has been incorporated to the Grotius Centre for International Legal Studies (Campus The Hague, Leiden University). The Grotius Centre houses a variety of activities and programs, covering all aspects of international law.

Sponsors

The organisation of the Telders Moot Court is made possible with the kind support of many sponsors, such as the City of The Hague, the City of Leiden, the Swiss Embassy in The Hague, The Carnegie Foundation, law firms, and generous contributors. In addition, donations of major publishers make it possible to offer the teams awards in the form of books and reviews on international law.