The Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia (ECCC), the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and the Royal University of Law and Economics staged the 2025 National Moot Court Competition, with a focus on International Humanitarian Law.
The goal was to let university students practice directly in a courtroom setting, notably the ECCC, according to a November 30 press release.
This year’s competition marks the third annual event the ECCC has organised, and attended by eight teams of law students from four universities: the National University of Management, Paññāsāstra University of Cambodia, BELTEI International University and the Royal University of Law and Economics (RULE).
After two days of intense competition from November 29-30, the students from RULE secured first place, with National University of Management in second and Paññāsāstra in third.
Kranh Tony, the ECCC acting director of administration, praised the champions, while describing the competition as an effective platform that allowed students to step out of the classroom and practice directly in a courtroom setting.
He encouraged the winning team to continue strengthening their capacity in preparation for the upcoming regional moot court competition and encouraged the students who did not win to keep trying and participate again in future competitions.
The ECCC, which tried the leaders of the Khmer Rouge regime, was the first hybrid tribunal to complete a judicial process that ensured justice and national reconciliation, claimed Tony.
He explained that this represented a significant contribution by the ECCC in eliminating the culture of impunity by delivering the highest-level accountability to the senior leaders and most responsible individuals of the Democratic Kampuchea regime, as well as contributing to peace and social justice.
“Recognising the importance of the ECCC’s legacy, the Royal Government of Cambodia will establish a permanent institution to continue managing and preserving this historical legacy of the ECCC for the benefit of future generations of Cambodians and people around the world in their future research and studies.
“This planned permanent institution may continue cooperation with the ICRC and all partner universities to carry on organising this program in the future,” he added.
