Johanna Piters, Selbi Durdiyeva and Laureen Van Assche

University of Essex law students successfully reached the semi-finals of a prestigious, international student competition for the fourth time in the last five years this week.

Laureen Van Assche, Selbi Durdiyeva and Johanna Piters, all on the LLM Human Rights and Humanitarian Law, were one of almost 100 teams to apply to take part in the simulated armed conflict event for the 25th Jean-Pictet International Humanitarian Law Competition in Thailand.

Forty-eight teams from around the world were selected for the finals which saw students taking on the parts of military officers, representatives of the Red Cross, armed rebels, human rights organisations and government lawyers.

The Essex team, who were coached by Tara Van Ho from the School of Law, were praised by the judges for their commitment to the spirit of Pictet.

Dr Noam Lubell, from the School, said: “Our human rights programmes are known for combining academic rigour with a practical approach to understanding human rights law and the law of armed conflict. Our students’ excellent performance at the competition this year and in past years is testament to the success of the Essex approach to human rights teaching.”

Team member Selbi Durdiyeva added: “Thanks to the Pictet Compeition, we increased our knowledge in international humanitarian law, improved public speaking skills, had the most memorable and exciting experience and found friends from all over the world who share the same interest in humanitarian law.”

The competition was organised by the International Committee of the Red Cross. For further information see: www.concourspictet.org/index_en.htm.

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For further information, or a picture, please contact the University Communications Office, telephone: 01206 873529 or e-mail: comms@essex.ac.uk.