SIOI - Prize "Giuseppe Sperduti"

What you win

This is a moot court competition in the field of human rights law, i.e. a simulated court trial in which law students argue a fictitious case. The teams work on a case based on the European Convention on Human Rights, first in writing and then in a public oral hearing before a panel of judges. The winning team receives 1,000 EUR, and the runners-up 500 euros. In addition to the prize money, members of the winning team are recommended for an internship at the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg. Each participant also receives a discount of 20% on the enrolment fee for SIOI’s Master’s programmes. The competition is organised annually by the Human Rights Committee of the Italian Society for International Organisations (SIOI) in Rome.

Who can apply

• Field of study: Law. The whole contest is about applying the European Convention on Human Rights.
• University: You are studying at an Italian university that offers a law degree. Each university may only enter one team. If it submits more than one entry, the first one received will count.
• Team: You will be competing as part of a team of 3 students, each of whom has been enrolled on a degree programme for at least 1 years.
• First-timers only: You have not yet taken part in this competition.
• Language: You are to write the text and set out the reasoning behind your argument in Italian.
• Nationality: The competition is open to people of any nationality, provided they are studying at an Italian law faculty.

How to apply

Your team registers with SIOI's Human Rights Committee in Rome using the entry form. Applications have historically closed in early May. After registration, each team writes a defence brief of up to 30 pages for its assigned side. The two best briefs then meet in a public oral final judged by a six-member panel.

How realistic are your chances?

The field of participants is small and clearly defined: exclusively Italian law students in teams of three, competing for the first time, with only one team per university permitted. A maximum of 20 teams take part, and only two reach the final, where they compete for the prize money and a recommendation for an internship in Strasbourg. Your prospects depend heavily on the quality of your written submission and your oral arguments, so a well-prepared team with a sound knowledge of the European Convention on Human Rights stands a real chance of success.