Oxford wins the Northern European Regional Round of the Monroe E Price Media Law Moot 2023 in Paris

The Oxford team for the Monroe E Price Media Law Moot 2023 consists of Valerie Kwok (BCL, University College), Lucy Ryder (Law with Spanish Law, Exeter College), Shivanii Arun (Law with French Law, Merton College), and Edward Wong (Law, St Catherine’s College). The team has been coached by Tanishka Sahajwalla (MLF, Wolfson College).

This year’s moot problem has three grounds concerning Articles 2(3), 17, and 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR). The first two grounds related to the positive obligation imposed on State parties under the ICCPR to protect the rights of their citizens and how such an obligation may be effectively discharged with respect to the issues of intermediary liability of internet platforms and efficacy of criminal investigations. The third ground concerned the issue of academic freedom in relation to Article 19 of the ICCPR.

The team prepared two memorials of 5,000 words each, with Valerie and Lucy representing the applicants and Shivanii and Edward representing the respondents. On 31st January they travelled to Paris to compete in the Northern European Regional Round of the competition. Due to their high scores in the preliminary rounds, the team advanced to the finals in which Valerie and Lucy argued before a bench of five judges led by Willem Korthals Altes (retired judge from the Netherlands), current judges from the European Court of Human Rights, and distinguished advocates from various jurisdictions.

The Oxford team was declared the winners, with Lucy winning ‘Best Oralist in the Finals’ and ‘Best Oralist Overall’. Both Valerie and Lucy were commended on the persuasiveness of their arguments and their strong oral advocacy skills. The team was also runner-up for the ‘Best Memorials’ in the competition. As a result, they will advance to the International Rounds to be held from the 14th to 20th of April 2023.