Oxford students finish as Quarter Finalists at the ELSA Human Rights Moot 2021

Oxford’s team comprising of Olivia Railton (BA in Jurisprudence, Wadham), Alvin Cheung (BCL, University), Amna Ali (BCL, New) and Austin Chan (BCL, Keble) finished as Quarter-Finalists in the 9th ELSA Human Rights Moot Court Competition 2021. The team was coached by Roman Tokaryk (MJur, St Hugh’s).

The problem case concerned alleged violations committed by the fictitious State Alethea in times of Malit-5 pandemic. The core issues of the debates were alleged violations of the right to a fair trial under Article 6 of the ECHR, the right to privacy under Article 8 of the ECHR, the right to freedom of assembly under Article 11 of the ECHR and the right to an effective remedy under Article 13 of the ECHR. It broadly dealt with the theme of human rights during public health emergencies.

The moot simulates the experience of pleading a case before the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg and is organised by the European Law Students’ Association with the support of the Council of Europe. While 69 teams participated in the competition this year, only 18 qualified to the international rounds.

Oxford’s team was recognised as the Best Applicant and the Best Respondent team of the Cluj-Napoca Virtual Eastern Regional Round held in March 2021. Two months later, they competed against the 18 top teams at the Virtual Final Round and argued the case before academics and practitioners with experience and expertise in the case-law of the ECtHR.

The Mooting Programme congratulates Olivia, Alvin, Amna, Austin and Roman on their run at the moot!