UNIVERSITY OF COLOGNE

IBA ICC Moot Court Competition

The IBA ICC Moot Court Competition is an annual simulation of a trial before the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague, organized under the leadership of Leiden University (Netherlands) in cooperation with the International Bar Association and the ICC.

University teams from around the world compete against each other with the goal of reaching the finals, which take place in a courtroom before judges of the ICC. To qualify, teams must pass national preliminary rounds and international rounds in The Hague, which involve a competition based on written submissions, known as memorials, as well as oral pleadings. The University of Cologne's team for 2025 has already qualified for participation in the international rounds.

As the world’s first competition in the field of international criminal law, the IBA ICC Moot Court Competition has, since its inception in 2004, provided participants with the opportunity to familiarize themselves with the workings of international criminal justice under real-world conditions and in English. Participants—including team members, judges, coaches, and professors—engage in exchange and collaboration. Competitors have the chance to prove themselves for the first time in authentic courtrooms before practitioners from the field. The competition covers fundamental and contemporary topics of international criminal law, thereby contributing to the fight against impunity for the most serious violations of international law.

For more detailed information about the IBA ICC Moot Court Competition, visit: https://iccmoot.com/index.php/about-us/.