01 Apr 08

European Human Rights judges will be considering the students' arguments

Oxford University is hosting a three-day global moot competition for law students, starting on Thursday 3 April. Around 25 students will be putting their arguments before judges from the European Court of Human Rights and distinguished scholars and experts from the field of media law in the first ever Price Moot Court Competition.

The international event involves eight teams of students: one team each from Kenya, Zimbabwe, Sierra Leone, Georgia, Russia, and Malaysia; and two teams from India. The competition is being organised by the Centre for Socio-Legal Studies, University of Oxford, in collaboration with the International Media Lawyers Association (IMLA). According to the organisers ‘defending the media needs media defenders’ – the main goal is to promote media defence work among students worldwide and to raise awareness of international standards of protection of media freedom.

Each of the teams will take part in four different rounds. Individuals will argue twice for the applicant and twice for the respondent in one fictional case about fundamental media law issues, such as defamation of high-ranking politicians and state officials and consider issues of access to state-held information. They will be judged on their written submission and their oral work.

Participants will operate in a world where a Universal Court of Human Rights has been established to ensure the citizens of the United Nations are enjoying the rights enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Moreover, in the world where the students are asked to operate, a Chamber of this Universal Court of Human Rights has been established in Oxford in order to deal with issues specifically addressing cases concerning Freedom of Expression as set out in Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights by the United Nations.

The international nature of the competition should encourage students to learn about, and compare, legal systems that are different to their own – a very important ability for lawyers in a globalised world.

In his written address to launch the competition, the Chancellor of the University of Oxford, Lord Patten, thanks the competition judges, describing them as ‘some of the leading figures in the subject’. He says: ‘I believe this competition is important as it's likely to encourage students world-wide to consider a career in media defence work in their own societies. I wish this initiative every success and hope it will expand and attract even more law students from around the world to come and compete in Oxford during the three days of the competition each year.’

Dr Danilo Leonardi, Head of the Programme in Comparative Media Law and Policy at the Centre for Socio-Legal Studies, said: ‘The moot is a project for the University of Oxford that bridges the gap between the world of academia and the world of practice – to enhance skills in media defence work can prepare future lawyers to significantly help improve the conditions for freedom of speech in their societies around the world.’

The Price Moot Court Competition will become an annual event. It is named in honour of Professor Monroe E Price who founded the Programme of Comparative Media Law and Policy at Oxford University’s Centre for Socio-Legal Studies. Professor Price has dedicated his life – both in academia as well as in practice - to the development of media freedom and the rule of law.

Among the judges officiating in the competition, is Judge Dean Spielmann, from the European Court of Human Rights; Professor Monroe E Price; Mark Stephens, partner in Finer Stephens Innocent, London; Andrew Sharland, barrister, Grays Inn Square Chambers, London; Siobhain Butterworth, Readers’ Editor of the Guardian, London; as well as members of the IMLA network.