The 19th Red Cross International Humanitarian Law Moot Court Competition (China Round) was recently held in Wuhan. The Tianjin Normal University (TNU) team, composed of students from the School of Law, achieved a new breakthrough in the competition by winning the National Third Prize and the Second Runner-up Best Memorial for Defence.

The team consisted of five students from the School of Law: Li Xiaoyi, Zhang Jialin, Wang Nanying, Zhang Jiaqi, and Cheng Yifei, under the guidance of their faculty advisor, Ms. Fang Yi from the International Law Teaching and Research Section. The competition rigorously tested the participants' legal research and memorial-writing skills. The team members delved into extensive English-language materials and international case law, producing logically coherent and precisely argued written memorials. Their clear and structured oral pleadings during the courtroom sessions demonstrated solid legal analysis capabilities and strong professional competence.

During the six-month preparation period, the team focused on International Humanitarian Law and International Criminal Law, conducting in-depth analyses of core legal concepts. They engaged in intensive, realistic mock trial rehearsals for repeated practical training. Through multiple rounds of systematic practice, the students significantly enhanced their legal research, memorial-drafting, and English-language oral advocacy skills, successfully bridging the gap from theoretical knowledge to practical application.

The Red Cross International Humanitarian Law Moot Court Competition is an event with extensive international influence, organized by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). This year's China Round was co-hosted by the ICRC, the Secretariat of the Chinese National Committee on International Humanitarian Law, and Zhongnan University of Economics and Law. It attracted participating teams from 74 universities, including Peking University, Tsinghua University, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Fudan University, China University of Political Science and Law, and Nankai University. Simulating the pre-trial phase of the International Criminal Court (ICC), the competition invited numerous experts and scholars to serve as judges. It comprised two main segments: memorial writing and live oral pleadings, both conducted entirely in English.

In recent years, the School of Law has made sustained efforts in cultivating students' practical skills. This competition has further deepened the students' understanding of international law, achieving the teaching goals of using competitions to enhance instruction, learning, and curriculum development. It has also stimulated students' interest and motivation in studying, contemplating, and researching international law. Moving forward, the School of Law will continue to refine its talent cultivation system, deepen the integration of competitions and teaching, and persistently advance the training of high-caliber foreign-related legal professionals.

By He Jierui