--- title: "Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court 2026/27 —" description: "Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court 2026/27 is a moot court conference in Berlin, Germany, Jun 9, 2026. Dates, deadlines, fees, and prep links." url: "https://modeldiplomat.com/conferences/moot-court/philip-c-jessup-international-law-moot-court-2026-27-2026" --- # Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court 2026/27 Jun 9, 2026[Berlin, Germany](https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1\&query=Berlin%2C%20Germany)In-person [Registration open](https://www.jura.fu-berlin.de/fachbereich/einrichtungen/oeffentliches-recht/lehrende/kriegerh/informationen/Call-for-Applications-2026.html) The Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition is a prestigious international law moot court for college-level students. The competition provides a unique opportunity for participants to engage with complex issues of public international law, simulating a dispute before the International Court of Justice. The event is hosted in DEU, offering a significant platform for aspiring international legal professionals. ## Committees & topics - Topics Allegations of Gender Apartheid Under International Law · Recognition of Governments Following an Unconstitutional Change of Power · State Responses to a Mass Influx of Asylum Seekers · Sanctions Designations Generated by Artificial Intelligence ## Why it matters The Jessup Competition is globally recognized as a premier event for students interested in international law. It fosters critical thinking, legal research, and oral advocacy skills, which are essential for careers in diplomacy, international organizations, and legal practice. By simulating proceedings before the International Court of Justice, participants gain practical experience in applying international legal principles to contemporary global challenges. The competition's focus on public international law means that participants delve into topics such as state sovereignty, human rights, environmental law, and the peaceful resolution of disputes. These areas are central to understanding the intricate web of international relations and the mechanisms through which states interact and resolve conflicts. The skills honed during the Jessup Competition are directly transferable to roles within international bodies and diplomatic missions, where nuanced understanding of international legal frameworks is paramount. Furthermore, the Jessup Competition serves as a vital networking opportunity, connecting students with peers, academics, and legal professionals from around the world. This global interaction enriches the learning experience and builds a foundation for future international collaboration. The competition's enduring legacy lies in its contribution to developing the next generation of international legal experts and diplomats. ## How to prepare Participants in the Jessup Competition must undertake extensive preparation, which typically involves in-depth research into complex areas of public international law. This includes analyzing relevant treaties, customary international law, judicial decisions from bodies like the International Court of Justice, and scholarly writings. The ability to synthesize vast amounts of legal information and construct compelling arguments is crucial for success. Developing strong oral advocacy skills is equally important. Teams must prepare to present their arguments persuasively before a panel of judges, who often include distinguished legal scholars, practitioners, and judges. This involves mastering public speaking, responding to challenging questions, and maintaining composure under pressure. Rehearsals and mock trials are integral to refining these skills. Collaboration within the team is also a key aspect of preparation. Each team member contributes to the research, drafting of memorials, and oral arguments. Effective teamwork ensures a cohesive and well-rounded presentation of the case. The competition demands not only individual brilliance but also the ability to work synergistically towards a common goal, mirroring the collaborative nature of international legal practice. ## Country perspectives Where the most-relevant 2 countries stand on the core issues in play. Click through for the full country profile. [Germany](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/germany) [As the host nation, DEU provides the logistical and academic infrastructure for the competition, emphasizing its commitment to international legal education and the rule of law.](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/germany) [Role in topic](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/germany) [DEU's role as the host city highlights its position as a significant center for international legal discourse and education in Europe. The country's legal traditions and its engagement with international institutions underscore the importance of such events.](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/germany) [United States](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/united-states) [The competition originates from the USA and reflects its historical influence on international legal education and the development of moot court traditions.](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/united-states) [Role in topic](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/united-states) [The competition's origins in the USA demonstrate the country's long-standing engagement with international law and its role in fostering legal education globally. Many foundational principles of international law are debated and refined within US academic institutions.](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/united-states) ## Topics & background The background behind each topic and the actors that shape it. 1 ### Allegations of Gender Apartheid Under International Law The term 'gender apartheid' has gained traction since the Taliban's return to power in Afghanistan in August 2021, after which a cascade of edicts barred women and girls from secondary and university education, most paid employment, public parks, gyms, and travel without a male guardian. Iran has faced parallel accusations following the 2022 death in custody of Mahsa Amini and the subsequent crackdown on the 'Woman, Life, Freedom' movement, particularly through intensified enforcement of mandatory hijab laws. Civil society campaigns, UN special rapporteurs (notably Richard Bennett on Afghanistan and Javaid Rehman on Iran), and a coalition of states have argued that systematic, institutionalized gender-based oppression should be recognized as a distinct international crime, analogous to the crime of apartheid codified in the 1973 Apartheid Convention and Article 7 of the Rome Statute, which currently defines apartheid only in racial terms. The legal debate centers on whether existing instruments — CEDAW, the Genocide Convention, customary prohibitions on persecution as a crime against humanity — already capture such conduct, or whether a new treaty norm and codification is required. Negotiations on the ILC Draft Articles on Crimes Against Humanity, now before the Sixth Committee, became a focal point in 2024 when several states proposed expanding the definition of apartheid to include gender, while others objected on grounds of treaty conservatism and concerns about reopening the Rome Statute consensus. In September 2024 the ICC Prosecutor's Office sought arrest warrants against Taliban Supreme Leader Haibatullah Akhundzada and Chief Justice Abdul Hakim Haqqani for gender persecution, marking the first such ICC action and sharpening questions of attribution, individual versus state responsibility, and the legal threshold between persecution and apartheid. Key players - [Afghanistan](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/afghanistan) [De facto Taliban authorities accused of institutionalizing gender-based oppression.](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/afghanistan) - [Iran](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/iran) [Subject of UN fact-finding mission findings on systemic discrimination against women and girls.](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/iran) - [Australia](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/australia) [Co-leading diplomatic push to codify gender apartheid in the Crimes Against Humanity treaty.](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/australia) - [Germany](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/germany) [Backer of universal-jurisdiction prosecutions and ICC referrals on gender persecution.](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/germany) - [Chile](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/chile) [Vocal proponent within the Sixth Committee for expanded definition of apartheid.](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/chile) - [United States](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/united-states) [Influential but cautious actor on Rome Statute amendments and Taliban sanctions architecture.](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/united-states) 2 ### Recognition of Governments Following an Unconstitutional Change of Power International law has long distinguished between the recognition of states and the recognition of governments, but recent coups — Mali (2020/2021), Guinea (2021), Sudan (2021), Burkina Faso (2022), Niger (2023), and Gabon (2023) — have made the latter question acute. Regional bodies such as ECOWAS, the African Union, and the OAS routinely suspend coup-installed regimes under their respective democratic charters (the AU's Lomé Declaration and African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance; the OAS Inter-American Democratic Charter), while third states diverge in how they treat the resulting authorities at the UN, in bilateral relations, and in domestic courts handling sovereign immunity, asset claims, and treaty performance. The core legal dispute concerns the criteria for recognition — effective control (the traditional Tinoco/Lauterpacht line) versus democratic legitimacy and constitutional continuity — and the consequences of withholding recognition. UN credentials battles, such as the 2021 Afghan and Myanmar credentials standoffs before the General Assembly Credentials Committee, illustrate how non-recognition can leave a seat vacant or with a displaced delegation. Disputes also reach the ICJ and arbitral tribunals through questions of who may bind the state, espouse claims, or invoke immunities. Today, the practice is fragmented: Niger's CNSP, Myanmar's SAC, and Venezuela's competing claims have all generated inconsistent state practice, complicating sanctions regimes, frozen assets litigation, and the law of state succession in obligations. Key players - [Niger](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/niger) [Recent case study: 2023 coup ousted an elected government, triggering ECOWAS and Western non-recognition.](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/niger) - [Myanmar](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/myanmar) [2021 coup produced rival claimants to UN representation and ongoing credentials disputes.](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/myanmar) - [France](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/france) [Former colonial power whose military and diplomatic withdrawals followed Sahelian non-recognition decisions.](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/france) - [Russia](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/russia) [Increasingly engages with coup-installed regimes, challenging Western recognition practice.](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/russia) - [United States](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/united-states) [Applies statutory coup restrictions on aid and shapes UN credentials outcomes.](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/united-states) - [Nigeria](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/nigeria) [Lead ECOWAS state on regional democratic norms and sanctions against unconstitutional governments.](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/nigeria) 3 ### State Responses to a Mass Influx of Asylum Seekers The 1951 Refugee Convention and its 1967 Protocol oblige states to grant access to asylum procedures and to respect non-refoulement, but they were not designed for sudden, large-scale movements. UNHCR's 1981 Conclusion No. 22 and the 1984 Cartagena Declaration extended protection concepts to mass influx situations, and the EU adopted the 2001 Temporary Protection Directive — first activated in March 2022 for Ukrainians, covering over four million people. Comparable regimes have governed Venezuelans in Latin America under the Quito Process, Syrians in Türkiye and Lebanon, Rohingya in Bangladesh, Sudanese in Chad and Egypt, and Afghans in Pakistan and Iran. Each has tested the balance between burden-sharing, temporary protection, and the prohibition on collective expulsion. Legal controversy has intensified around externalization and deterrence: the UK–Rwanda asylum partnership (struck down by the UK Supreme Court in 2023), the EU–Türkiye Statement of 2016, Australia's offshore processing in Nauru and PNG, Italy's protocol with Albania, and U.S. Title 42 and 'safe third country' arrangements have all drawn challenges before the ECtHR, CJEU, and treaty bodies. Pushbacks at the Poland–Belarus, Greece–Türkiye, and U.S.–Mexico borders raise non-refoulement and Article 3 ECHR questions, while the 2018 Global Compact on Refugees promotes responsibility-sharing without creating binding obligations. The pending dispute is how far derogations, accelerated procedures, and 'instrumentalization' laws may go before they breach the Refugee Convention, the ICCPR, and regional human rights instruments. Key players - [Turkey](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/turkey) [Hosts the world's largest refugee population and central actor in EU externalization arrangements.](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/turkey) - [Poland](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/poland) [Frontline EU state contending with weaponized migration at the Belarus border.](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/poland) - [United Kingdom](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/united-kingdom) [Tested the legal limits of third-country transfer schemes through the Rwanda partnership.](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/united-kingdom) - [Colombia](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/colombia) [Granted temporary protected status to nearly two million Venezuelans, a leading example of regional protection.](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/colombia) - [Bangladesh](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/bangladesh) [Hosts roughly one million Rohingya in Cox's Bazar, raising long-term mass-influx questions.](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/bangladesh) - [United States](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/united-states) [Shapes hemispheric practice through asylum cooperative agreements and border enforcement policy.](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/united-states) 4 ### Sanctions Designations Generated by Artificial Intelligence Targeted sanctions — asset freezes, travel bans, and sectoral restrictions on listed individuals and entities — have grown exponentially since the late 1990s, with OFAC's SDN List, the EU consolidated list, and the UK's OFSI list now together comprising tens of thousands of designations. To manage this scale, sanctions authorities and private compliance firms increasingly rely on machine-learning tools for screening, network analysis to detect sanctions evasion, and pattern recognition to identify front companies, shadow fleets, and crypto wallets. OFAC's 2023 enforcement actions against virtual currency mixers and its 2024 sanctions on Russian shadow-fleet tankers reflect designations heavily informed by algorithmic analysis of shipping, financial messaging, and blockchain data. Using AI to generate or substantially support listing decisions raises novel international-law and due-process questions. Sanctions designations already strain procedural rights: the UN 1267 Ombudsperson mechanism was created in response to Kadi I and II at the CJEU, and the ECtHR's Al-Dulimi judgment imposed minimum review standards. AI-assisted designations sharpen concerns about explainability, evidentiary thresholds, bias in training data, and the ability of listed parties to challenge decisions whose reasoning may be opaque even to the listing authority. Issues also arise around extraterritoriality, secondary sanctions on third-state nationals, the use of private vendors' proprietary models, and state responsibility under the ILC Articles when algorithmic error causes wrongful deprivation of property or freedom of movement. No binding international framework yet governs these practices. Key players - [United States](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/united-states) [Operator of the most extensive sanctions regime and earliest adopter of AI-assisted enforcement tools.](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/united-states) - [United Kingdom](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/united-kingdom) [Post-Brexit autonomous sanctions architect, with growing OFSI use of data analytics.](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/united-kingdom) - [Russia](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/russia) [Most-sanctioned state and frequent challenger to designations on procedural grounds.](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/russia) - [China](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/china) [Target of expanding designations and developer of its own Unreliable Entity List as a countermeasure.](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/china) - [Iran](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/iran) [Long-standing sanctions target whose evasion networks drive algorithmic detection methods.](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/iran) - [Belgium](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/belgium) [Hosts SWIFT and EU sanctions infrastructure central to financial enforcement.](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/belgium) ## Resources News, lessons, and country profiles to prep for Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court 2026/27. Recent reporting to ground your prep [India's 131st Amendment Bill](https://modeldiplomat.com/story/indias-131st-amendment-bill-womens-reservation-for-2029-elections) [India's 33% Women’s Quota in Lok Sabha 2029](https://modeldiplomat.com/story/india-proposes-33-womens-quota-in-expanded-lok-sabha-by-2029) [Namassivayam's Delhi Visit: BJP's Power Play](https://modeldiplomat.com/story/namassivayams-delhi-trip-shows-bjps-puducherry-leverage) [Akal Takht Challenges Punjab Anti-Sacrilege](https://modeldiplomat.com/story/akal-takht-challenges-punjabs-new-anti-sacrilege-law) The states in play, with the data that shapes their stance [Germany](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/germany) [Country dossier](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/germany) [Afghanistan](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/afghanistan) [Country dossier](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/afghanistan) [Iran](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/iran) [Country dossier](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/iran) [Australia](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/australia) [Country dossier](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/australia) [Chile](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/chile) [Country dossier](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/chile) [United States](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/united-states) [Country dossier](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/united-states) [Niger](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/niger) [Country dossier](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/niger) [Myanmar](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/myanmar) [Country dossier](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/myanmar) [France](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/france) [Country dossier](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/france) [Russia](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/russia) [Country dossier](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/russia) [Nigeria](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/nigeria) [Country dossier](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/nigeria) [Turkey](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/turkey) [Country dossier](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/turkey) [Poland](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/poland) [Country dossier](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/poland) [United Kingdom](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/united-kingdom) [Country dossier](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/united-kingdom) [Colombia](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/colombia) [Country dossier](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/colombia) [Bangladesh](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/bangladesh) [Country dossier](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/bangladesh) [China](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/china) [Country dossier](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/china) [Belgium](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/belgium) [Country dossier](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/belgium) ## 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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