--- title: "2026 Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court" description: "2026 Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition – Spanish National Rounds is a moot court conference in Barcelona, Spain, Feb 10–12, 2026." url: "https://modeldiplomat.com/conferences/moot-court/2026-philip-c-jessup-international-law-moot-court-competition-spanish-national-rounds-2026" --- # 2026 Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition – Spanish National Rounds Feb 10–12, 2026[Barcelona, Spain](https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1\&query=Barcelona%2C%20Spain)In-person ConcludedRegistration closed The Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition – Spanish National Rounds, held in Barcelona, ESP, is a collegiate-level event focusing on public international law. It provides a platform for university students to engage in simulated international legal disputes, honing their advocacy skills and deepening their understanding of complex global legal issues. The competition serves as a crucial national qualifier for the international rounds. ## Committees & topics - Topics The Evolving Architecture of Public International Law · The Role and Jurisdiction of the International Court of Justice · Indigenous Peoples' Rights under International Law · Rare Earth Minerals and the Law of Strategic Resources · Immunity of State-Owned Enterprises in International Law ## Why it matters The Jessup Competition is globally recognized as a premier moot court event, fostering the next generation of international legal professionals. For participants in the Spanish National Rounds, it offers an unparalleled opportunity to apply theoretical knowledge to practical scenarios, developing critical thinking and oral advocacy skills essential for a career in international law. The competition's focus on contemporary international legal challenges ensures that students are grappling with issues of immediate global relevance. Success in the national rounds not only brings prestige to the participating universities but also prepares students for the rigorous demands of the global competition. The experience gained in preparing memorials, conducting legal research, and presenting arguments before distinguished judges, often including real-world legal practitioners and academics, is invaluable. This rigorous process mirrors the work of international legal bodies and tribunals, providing a realistic simulation of the international legal landscape. ## How to prepare Participants in the Spanish National Rounds should focus on a comprehensive understanding of public international law principles, including areas such as state responsibility, human rights, and the law of treaties. Given the competition's format, strong research skills are paramount, enabling teams to construct robust legal arguments and anticipate counter-arguments. Mastery of legal citation and the ability to draft persuasive memorials are also critical components of preparation. Oral advocacy is a cornerstone of the Jessup Competition. Teams must practice presenting their arguments clearly, concisely, and persuasively, while also being prepared to respond to challenging questions from the judicial panel. Developing a deep familiarity with the competition's problem, known as the Compromis, and understanding the nuances of its factual and legal issues will be key to success. Collaboration within the team, strategic planning, and consistent practice are essential for navigating the complexities of the competition. ## Country perspectives Where the most-relevant 2 countries stand on the core issues in play. Click through for the full country profile. [Spain](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/spain) [Host and participant in the national rounds, aiming to develop its future international legal talent.](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/spain) [Role in topic](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/spain) [As the host nation for these national rounds, ESP plays a vital role in cultivating expertise in international law among its university students. The competition in Barcelona highlights ESP's commitment to legal education and its engagement with global legal discourse. Universities from ESP compete to represent their country on the international stage, showcasing their legal scholarship and advocacy skills.](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/spain) [United States](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/united-states) [Originator of the Jessup Competition, promoting international legal education globally.](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/united-states) [Role in topic](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/united-states) [The Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition originated in the USA and is organized by the International Law Students Association (ILSA), based in the USA. The USA's role is foundational, providing the framework and global coordination for this extensive competition, which aims to promote international legal education and understanding worldwide.](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/united-states) ## Topics & background The background behind each topic and the actors that shape it. 1 ### The Evolving Architecture of Public International Law Public international law emerged from the Westphalian settlement of 1648 and was progressively codified through the Hague Conventions, the League of Nations Covenant, and most decisively the UN Charter of 1945. The Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties (1969), the work of the International Law Commission on state responsibility, and the proliferation of specialized regimes—trade, human rights, environment, law of the sea—have transformed a once-thin body of inter-sovereign rules into a dense, fragmented order. Customary international law, treaty law, general principles, and peremptory norms (jus cogens) form its recognized sources under Article 38 of the ICJ Statute. Contemporary debate centers on the system's capacity to bind powerful states and to adapt to new domains: cyberspace, outer space, autonomous weapons, and climate change. Tensions between universalism and sovereignty have sharpened with selective compliance over Ukraine, Gaza, and unilateral sanctions regimes. The ILC's ongoing work on immunity of state officials, sea-level rise, and crimes against humanity illustrates both the resilience and the contested legitimacy of the international legal project, particularly as Global South states press for reform of rules they did not author. Key players - [United States](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/united-states) [Dominant treaty drafter that increasingly invokes sovereignty exceptions and rejects compulsory jurisdiction.](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/united-states) - [China](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/china) [Promotes a state-centric reading of international law and alternative norm-making fora.](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/china) - [Russia](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/russia) [Frequent target of state-responsibility claims and challenger of liberal interpretive consensus.](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/russia) - [United Kingdom](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/united-kingdom) [Permanent Security Council member and influential common-law contributor to ILC and ICJ jurisprudence.](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/united-kingdom) - [France](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/france) [Civil-law anchor of codification efforts and active litigant before international courts.](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/france) - [Spain](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/spain) [Active proponent of multilateralism, universal jurisdiction doctrines, and Ibero-American legal dialogue.](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/spain) 2 ### The Role and Jurisdiction of the International Court of Justice Established by the UN Charter in 1945 as the successor to the Permanent Court of International Justice, the ICJ sits in The Hague and is the principal judicial organ of the United Nations. Its contentious jurisdiction depends on state consent—expressed through special agreement, compromissory clauses, or optional clause declarations under Article 36(2)—while its advisory function serves the General Assembly, Security Council, and authorized agencies. Landmark rulings from Corfu Channel (1949) and Nicaragua (1986) to the Wall Advisory Opinion (2004) have shaped doctrines on the use of force, self-determination, and state responsibility. The Court's docket has expanded dramatically in recent years. South Africa v. Israel under the Genocide Convention, The Gambia v. Myanmar, Ukraine v. Russia, and the 2024 advisory opinion on Climate Change Obligations have placed the ICJ at the center of geopolitically charged disputes. Critics highlight enforcement gaps under Article 94 of the Charter and selective compliance by great powers; supporters point to rising recourse by small and middle states and the Court's growing authority on erga omnes obligations. Debate now focuses on provisional measures, the standing of non-injured states, and the interaction between ICJ rulings and Security Council action. Key players - [Netherlands](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/netherlands) [Host state of the Court and steward of its institutional infrastructure.](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/netherlands) - [United States](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/united-states) [Withdrew from compulsory jurisdiction in 1986; selectively engages as party and amicus.](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/united-states) - [Russia](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/russia) [Respondent in high-profile Ukraine proceedings and challenger of the Court's jurisdiction.](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/russia) - [South Africa](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/south-africa) [Lead applicant in the Genocide Convention case against Israel, expanding standing doctrine.](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/south-africa) - [Israel](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/israel) [Respondent in genocide proceedings and subject of the 2024 advisory opinion on the OPT.](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/israel) - [Vanuatu](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/vanuatu) [Initiated the UNGA request for the advisory opinion on climate change obligations.](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/vanuatu) 3 ### Indigenous Peoples' Rights under International Law The international recognition of indigenous peoples evolved from ILO Convention 107 (1957) and its successor Convention 169 (1989) through the adoption of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) in 2007. UNDRIP affirms rights to self-determination, lands and resources, cultural integrity, and free, prior and informed consent (FPIC). The Inter-American Court of Human Rights—through Awas Tingni (2001), Saramaka (2007), and Sarayaku (2012)—has produced some of the most developed jurisprudence on collective land rights, influencing tribunals worldwide. Despite this normative architecture, implementation remains uneven. Extractive industries, infrastructure megaprojects, and the energy transition's demand for transition minerals have intensified conflicts over indigenous territories from the Amazon to the Arctic. Debates concentrate on the legal status of FPIC (consent versus consultation), the justiciability of UNDRIP, reparations for historical dispossession, and the recognition of indigenous legal systems. Recent cases before the IACtHR, the African Commission, and UN treaty bodies signal a gradual hardening of soft-law norms into enforceable obligations, while many states resist constitutional or statutory incorporation. Key players - [Bolivia](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/bolivia) [Constitutional plurinational state and leading advocate of indigenous rights in UN fora.](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/bolivia) - [Brazil](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/brazil) [Home to the largest Amazonian indigenous populations and contested demarcation policies.](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/brazil) - [Canada](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/canada) [Adopted UNDRIP implementing legislation in 2021 while managing extensive treaty-rights litigation.](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/canada) - [Australia](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/australia) [Faces ongoing debate over constitutional recognition following the 2023 Voice referendum.](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/australia) - [New Zealand](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/new-zealand) [Operates within the Treaty of Waitangi framework, a reference model for co-governance.](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/new-zealand) - [Colombia](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/colombia) [Recognizes indigenous jurisdiction and FPIC and litigates extensively before the IACtHR.](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/colombia) 4 ### Rare Earth Minerals and the Law of Strategic Resources Rare earth elements and related critical minerals—lithium, cobalt, nickel, graphite, and the seventeen lanthanides—underpin defense systems, semiconductors, and the clean-energy transition. China's consolidation of mining and, more decisively, refining capacity since the 1990s, combined with its 2010 export curbs against Japan and its 2023–2024 controls on gallium, germanium, and graphite, exposed the structural vulnerability of Western supply chains. The 2014 WTO panel ruling in China — Rare Earths found earlier export restrictions inconsistent with GATT Article XI, but new measures invoke national-security exceptions under Article XXI. States have responded with industrial policy and plurilateral arrangements: the US Inflation Reduction Act, the EU Critical Raw Materials Act (2024), the Minerals Security Partnership, and bilateral offtake agreements across Africa, Latin America, and Central Asia. Legal questions multiply: the compatibility of subsidies and local-content rules with WTO disciplines, the application of investment-treaty protections to resource nationalism, environmental and indigenous-consent obligations at mine sites, and the embryonic regime for deep-sea mining under UNCLOS and the International Seabed Authority. The topic sits at the intersection of trade law, investment arbitration, environmental law, and emerging norms on economic coercion. Key players - [China](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/china) [Dominant producer and refiner deploying export controls as strategic leverage.](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/china) - [United States](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/united-states) [Architect of friend-shoring policies and the Minerals Security Partnership.](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/united-states) - [Australia](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/australia) [Leading non-Chinese miner and key supplier to allied processing initiatives.](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/australia) - [Chile](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/chile) [Holder of the world's largest lithium reserves under a state-led nationalization framework.](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/chile) - [Democratic Republic of the Congo](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/drc) [Source of most global cobalt amid scrutiny over labor, environmental, and contract terms.](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/drc) - [Germany](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/germany) [Driver of the EU Critical Raw Materials Act and downstream industrial demand.](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/germany) 5 ### Immunity of State-Owned Enterprises in International Law The doctrine of sovereign immunity shifted during the twentieth century from an absolute to a restrictive theory, distinguishing acta jure imperii (sovereign acts) from acta jure gestionis (commercial acts). This shift is codified in the European Convention on State Immunity (1972), the US Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act (1976), the UK State Immunity Act (1978), and most importantly the UN Convention on Jurisdictional Immunities of States and Their Property (2004), which has not yet entered into force. The ICJ confirmed the customary status of restrictive immunity in Jurisdictional Immunities of the State (Germany v. Italy, 2012). The rise of large state-owned enterprises—particularly Chinese, Gulf, and Russian conglomerates active in energy, infrastructure, sovereign investment, and shipping—has reopened core questions. When is an SOE a 'separate entity' from the state under Article 2 of the UN Convention? Do sovereign wealth funds enjoy immunity from execution? How do investment-treaty obligations interact with immunity defenses, as in cases such as Yukos enforcement litigation and proceedings concerning frozen Russian central bank assets? National courts in London, Paris, New York, and Hong Kong have produced divergent rulings, and proposals to repurpose immobilized sovereign assets for Ukraine reconstruction have placed the topic at the heart of contemporary legal and political debate. Key players - [United States](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/united-states) [Operates the FSIA and central forum for SOE litigation and asset attachment.](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/united-states) - [China](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/china) [Defends broad immunity for SOEs and shifted in 2023 from absolute to restrictive doctrine.](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/china) - [Russia](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/russia) [Subject of unprecedented asset-freezing measures testing immunity from execution.](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/russia) - [United Kingdom](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/united-kingdom) [Forum for leading SOE and sovereign-debt jurisprudence under the State Immunity Act.](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/united-kingdom) - [Germany](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/germany) [Prevailing party in Germany v. Italy and key voice on jus cogens-immunity interaction.](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/germany) - [Italy](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/italy) [Constitutional Court's Sentenza 238/2014 challenged the absolute reach of state immunity.](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/italy) ## Resources News, lessons, and country profiles to prep for 2026 Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition – Spanish National Rounds. Recent reporting to ground your prep [Supreme Court Upholds Election Commission Dis](https://modeldiplomat.com/story/supreme-court-keeps-election-commission-control-fight-alive) [Supreme Court's Voting Rights Impact on 2026](https://modeldiplomat.com/story/supreme-courts-voting-rights-ruling-reshapes-2026-elections) [Supreme Court VRA Ruling Empowers GOP 2026](https://modeldiplomat.com/story/supreme-courts-vra-ruling-boosts-gop-strategy-for-2026) [Trump's Federal Election Strategy](https://modeldiplomat.com/story/trumps-federal-election-strategy-control-before-2026-midterms) The states in play, with the data that shapes their stance [Spain](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/spain) [Country dossier](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/spain) [United States](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/united-states) [Country dossier](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/united-states) [China](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/china) [Country dossier](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/china) [Russia](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/russia) [Country dossier](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/russia) [United Kingdom](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/united-kingdom) [Country dossier](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/united-kingdom) [France](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/france) [Country dossier](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/france) [Netherlands](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/netherlands) [Country dossier](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/netherlands) [South Africa](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/south-africa) [Country dossier](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/south-africa) [Israel](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/israel) [Country dossier](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/israel) [Vanuatu](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/vanuatu) [Country dossier](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/vanuatu) [Bolivia](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/bolivia) [Country dossier](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/bolivia) [Brazil](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/brazil) [Country dossier](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/brazil) [Canada](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/canada) [Country dossier](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/canada) [Australia](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/australia) [Country dossier](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/australia) [New Zealand](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/new-zealand) [Country dossier](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/new-zealand) [Colombia](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/colombia) [Country dossier](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/colombia) [Chile](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/chile) [Country dossier](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/chile) [Democratic Republic of the Congo](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/drc) [Country dossier](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/drc) [Germany](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/germany) [Country dossier](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/germany) [Italy](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/italy) [Country dossier](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/italy) ## Frequently asked questions - - - Free account Save conferences, research any topic with AI, build position papers, and keep your daily prep streak — free. 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