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What is the Helga Pedersen Moot Court Competition (HPMCC)?

Structure of the Competition

Organisational Responsibilities

ELSA International

Regional Round Organisers

Academic Board

General Organisation of Regional Rounds

External Relations

What is the Helga Pedersen Moot Court Competition (HPMCC)?

The Helga Pedersen Moot Court Competition (HPMCC) is a Flagship Project of ELSA which consists of a simulated hearing in front of the European Court of Human Rights.

This annual competition organised by ELSA in cooperation with the Council of Europe and the European Court of Human Rights. Through the simulation of proceedings before the European Court of Human Rights, the competition enables participants Europe-wide to apply and deepen their knowledge of the European Convention on Human Rights in a practical setting.

The competition is named in honour of Helga Pedersen, a Danish jurist whose distinguished career served as an inspiration to many. In 1971, she made history by becoming the first woman to be appointed as a judge of the European Court of Human Rights.

The winning team is awarded "the Council of Europe award" - a traineeship in the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg.

The Best Orator in the Grand Final is awarded "The Liaison Office of the Council of Europe Award" - a traineeship in the Council of Europe Liaison Office in Brussels.

Structure of the Competition

Participating teams examine a fictitious case during Written Rounds and Regional Rounds. Each team participates in one of the three Regional Rounds - pleading twice (once on behalf of Applicant and once on behalf of the Respondent).

Based on their Written Submission and Regional Round scores, the best 18 teams qualify for the Final Oral Round, which is held in the Council of Europe and the European Court of Human Rights premises in Strasbourg.

Organisational Responsibilities

ELSA International

ELSA International is responsible for the overall coordination of the HPMCC, including, but not limited to, drafting the case, appointing the judges, implementing and interpreting the HPMCC Rules, promoting the competition, managing the registration process, and allocating teams to the Regional Rounds.

The Vice President in charge of Competitions of the International Board of ELSA serves as the Head of the HPMCC Organising Committee. Together with the members of the ELSA International Team responsible for the HPMCC, they act as the primary point of contact for all organisational and practical matters relating to the Regional Rounds.

Regional Round Organisers

The Regional Round Organiser (RRO) is the ELSA Group that has entered into a Hosting Agreement with ELSA for the organisation of a specific Regional Round of the HPMCC. Subject to prior consultation and agreement with ELSA, the RRO is responsible for the planning, organisation, and financing of the respective Regional Round.

It should be noted that all Regional Rounds operate independently from ELSA International in financial terms. Accordingly, each RRO bears full responsibility for securing the funding and managing the finances of its Regional Round, while ELSA International does not assume any financial responsibility for its organisation.

Academic Board

The Academic Board is responsible for safeguarding the academic quality of the Competition by providing advice and guidance to ELSA International. It is appointed by the International Board of ELSA and consists of experts with demonstrated experience in the field of human rights.

The Academic Board may be called upon by Teams, Competition organisers, or Judges to consider matters relating to alleged breaches of the Rules or any conduct that may result in, or be perceived as resulting in, an undue advantage within the Competition. In such cases, the Academic Board may hear the parties involved and, where necessary, consult the relevant Competition officials, members of ELSA International, the Organising Committee, and any other appointed individuals responsible for ensuring compliance with the Competition’s Rules and procedures. Following its assessment, the Academic Board shall issue a summary ruling.

General Organisation of Regional Rounds

Timeline

The Regional Round Organisers are required to develop a comprehensive timeline for the organisation of their respective Regional Round and to ensure its effective implementation. While the timeline suggested by ELSA International may be adapted to accommodate specific circumstances or the particular needs of an individual Regional Round, it is strongly recommended that it is followed as closely as possible in order to facilitate a smooth and efficient organisational process.

Human Resources

Human Resources play a crucial role in the successful organisation of a Regional Round. The Regional Round Organisers should recruit a team to form the Organising Committee, which will support the planning and implementation of the Regional Round throughout the entire organisational process as well as during the event itself.

It is therefore important to expand the Organising Committee by recruiting additional volunteers who can assist with practical tasks, such as printing documents, providing refreshments, escorting participants to the pleading rooms, answering questions, and supporting the overall operation of the event. It is highly recommended to involve as many volunteers as possible, as both the RROs and the Organising Committee will have significant responsibilities and will be required to manage multiple tasks simultaneously throughout the Regional Round.

Logistics

The Regional Round must consist of the following programme:

Day 1: An Academic Programme, the Opening Ceremony, and a Social Programme.
Day 2: Pleading Rounds 1–3, lunch, dinner, and a Social Programme.
Day 3: Pleading Rounds 4–6, lunch, the Awards Ceremony, and a Social Programme.

Academic Programme

It is important to note that the Academic Programme is not mandatory, although it is highly recommended. If organised, it should take place on the first day of the Regional Round and may take various forms, including a panel discussion, a lecture, or a seminar on a topic relevant to the Competition.

To prevent the formation of any actual or perceived biases, the topic of the Academic Programme should not be related to the Competition case, and the speakers involved should not serve as Judges during the Regional Round.

Social Programme

The Social Programme should take place each day after the ceremony and dinner. In the event of delays on the third day, there may not be sufficient time to organise a Social Programme, which is why it is advisable to schedule it during the first two days.

There is no requirement to organise extraordinary events; for example, participants may be invited to engage in informal discussions with experts in the field of human rights, take part in a game night, or join a city tour.

It is advised to have one member of the Organising Committee present for every ten participants attending the Social Programme in order to ensure its smooth running and to safeguard the welfare of all participants.

Marketing

The Regional Round Organisers will receive the relevant marketing materials from ELSA International. Regional Rounds are not separate events of National or Local Groups; therefore, no dedicated social media pages should be created for individual Regional Rounds.

In accordance with the Promotion Strategy you develop, and should you wish to publish information about your partners, Organising Committee, venues, and related elements, you are free to adapt the structure to best suit your objectives, while ensuring that the essence of the Helga Pedersen Moot Court Competition Marketing Kit is preserved and that its logo is used appropriately.

The responsibility of printing lies with the Regional Round Organisers. However, before printing any materials that include names, it is essential to carefully verify that all information is correct and that no changes have been made to team compositions.

Prizes

The prizes should include a diploma and a small recognition gift, with a cost range of approximately 10–20 EUR. The Regional Round Organisers are free to decide among themselves on the specific prizes for each category.

The Regional Round Organisers (RROs) are expected to provide prizes for the following categories:

Best Team
Runner-Up Team
Best Oralist
Most ELSA Spirited Team (the team demonstrating outstanding fellowship, willingness to network, and engagement with ELSA)

Accessibility and Inclusion

The Regional Round Organisers have a responsibility to ensure that the competition is accessible and inclusive for all participants, judges, coaches, and attendees. This includes providing accessible entrances, accessible restrooms, and elevators or ramps where necessary throughout the event.

Furthermore, they shall collect information regarding dietary restrictions, allergies, and other special dietary requirements and communicate this information promptly to the catering providers.

You can find more detailed information on the planning process, including in particular the finances, the people involved, the format of the oral pleadings, and the cooperation between the RROs and ELSA International, in the HPMCC Regional Rounds Handbook as well as in the other materials on the HPMCC in the relevant section on the Officers' Portal.

For more information about the current edition of the HPMCC, feel free to visit the website: helgapedersenmoot.elsa.org.

External Relations

On the side of the External Relations, the Helga Pedersen Moot Court Competition is supported by multiple sponsors and supporters, some cooperating with ELSA on the competition for many years. These partners are divided in the following categories:

The Supporters of the Final Oral Round

General Supporters

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