University of the Republic from Uruguay, wins the 12th ICC Moot Court Competition, Spanish version
The Hague, 30 May 2025 – The University of the Republic (Uruguay) has emerged as the winner of the final round of the 12th edition of the International Criminal Court (ICC) Moot Court Competition, Spanish version. The final round took place today in Courtroom I of the ICC premises in The Hague, the Netherlands.
The National University of Colombia and the University of Buenos Aires (Argentina) secured second and third places, respectively. The award for Best Speaker was presented to Antonia Perille Presa of the University of the Republic.
The winning team included Antonia Perille Presa, Juan Ignacio Acquistapace San Emeterio, Ignacio Michelini Di Lorenzo, and Belén Deberian Kevorkian.
The final round was adjudicated by ICC Judge Sergio Gerardo Ugalde Godínez (presiding), ICC Judge Socorro Flores Liera, and ICC Legal Officer in Chambers Magali Bobbio.
Competing teams presented oral arguments in a fictional case, assuming the roles of the Office of the Prosecutor, the Defence, and Legal Representatives of Victims. The proceedings were streamed live on the ICC’s website and Facebook page.
The Spanish edition of the ICC Moot Court Competition is held annually as part of the Ibero-American Week of International Justice in The Hague. It is organised by the Ibero-American Institute for Peace, Human Rights and International Justice (IIH), with institutional support from the International Criminal Court. This year’s preliminary rounds featured participants from 18 universities across 8 countries.
The ICC Moot Court Competitions form a key component of the Court’s academic outreach programme. Held in English, Spanish, French, and Chinese—with plans to include Arabic in the future—these initiatives aim to foster greater academic engagement and promote international criminal law worldwide.
The team from the University of the Republic, accompanied by Professor Héctor Olásolo and other faculty members, was received at the Embassy of Uruguay in The Hague by H.E. Álvaro González Otero, Ambassador of Uruguay to the Netherlands. The reception was a gesture of recognition for the team’s outstanding achievement and contribution to the promotion of international justice.
