Ukrainian team at the media law competition in Oxford. Photo: Taras Shevchenko, MLI

For the first time ever, a Ukrainian team of media law students made it to the 2010 Final Round of the acclaimed Monroe E. Price International Media Law Moot Court Competition in Oxford

By Viktoriia Dobrynska and Viktoriia Mykuliak, National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy

Ukrainian law students from the National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy presented their arguments in a model moot court case (simulated court proceeding) before a jury of renowned and experienced media lawyers from around the world. The purpose of the Competition was to encourage young law and communication students from all around the world to think in a new and innovative way about Freedom of Expression standards and resolve conflicts which arise in the process of exercising this freedom. During the competition young students are encouraged to bring forward new original ideas and concepts which are necessary for the further development of the field.

A boost of inspiriation

The team from Ukraine, who's participation was funded by International Media Support and the Ukrainian Law Firm “Vasil Kisil & Partners”, was represented by law students of the National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy, namely – Viktoriia Dobrynska, Viktoriia Mykuliak, Stanislava Ilchenko, Ruslana Oleksiichuk) with their coach Mr. Taras Shevchenko, Director of the Kyiv Media Law Institute. the team succeeded in winning their sessions in the Preliminary Rounds which brought them to the quarter-finals, where they were defeated by the 2010 Champion Team from Singapore.

Viktoriia Mykuliak, a member of the Ukrainian team said:

- It should be stressed that media law is still not well developed in Ukraine. Journalists as well as lawyers are mostly not knowledgeable enough about the ways to effectively protect Freedom of Expression. Currently, there are only three cases resolved by the European Court of Human Rights versus Ukraine in this subject area which does not necessarily mean that Freedom of Expression is well protected in our country, she said.

- I see the most important advantage of this competition in the fact that coming back from the Oxford, contest participants are able to develop new ideas and concepts for the protection of Freedom of Expression in their home countries.

The Ukrainian team’s strong will to win, the persuasiveness and charisma in presenting arguments before the judges also brought them the award for “Best Spirit of the Moot” and a money prize for the purchase of books from Oxford University Press.

Global participation of media law students

Monroe E. Price International Media Law Moot Court Competition is the only international Moot Court Competition which focuses on media law and policy, including Freedom of Expression as set out in Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

Despite the fact that the competition was founded just in 2008, it has grown significantly within the past three years, both in quality and in quantity. 2010 Final has seen the teams from Europe (Great Britain, Netherlands, Romania, Georgia and Ukraine), the United States of America (traditionally strong team from Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law), and Asia (China, Malaysia, India, Singapore, Thailand, Pakistan and Bangladesh).

To participate in the competition, students are required to provide comparative research of regional and international Freedom of Expression standards and to develop substantial arguments orally and in writing. The highlight of the competition is the oral round, which is traditionally held in Oxford. Here young, promising students have an opportunity to present their arguments before a jury of the leading media law experts from different legal systems and backgrounds. Participants also have a great opportunity to exchange knowledge and experiences with their peers and the renowned media law experts.

For more information about this event please contact Antonina Cherevko, IMS Programme Officer for Ukraine, at ac[snabela]i-m-s.dk or 380 50 410 27 68.