The 20th Edition of the Competition will take place in Switzerland, from April 19 to April 26, 2008.

NEW!
The Regulations and the Application Form are now on-line.

What is the Jean-Pictet Competition?

The Jean-Pictet Competition is a week long training event on international humanitarian law (IHL) intended for students (undergraduate or above in Law, Political Science, military academies, etc.). It consists in “taking law out of the books”, by simulations and role plays, allowing the jury of the Competition to evaluate teams’ theoretical knowledge and practical understanding of IHL.
The situations are founded on a fictitious, but realistic scenario of armed conflict. During the competition, the group dynamics alternate: meetings between the jury and one team, the jury and several teams, between two teams, etc. Participants and the jury have roles which change – for example, Red Cross delegates in the morning and combatants in the afternoon – encouraging the participants to consider the same situation from a variety of perspectives.

At the end of each session, the finalists compete in the international final, following which the Jean-Pictet Prize is awarded to the best team.
Each year the Competition takes place in a different location.

Who can attend and how?

To register, teams must consist of three students, from the same institution, none of whom has taken part in the Competition before and all of whom should generally be under than 30 years old.
The candidature file available on Internet site of the Competition (wwwconcourspictet.org) soon. The completed form should be returned to julia@concourspictet.org. The high number of applications means that only the most convincing files will be selected. The result of the selection is usually communicated to the teams on January preceding the Competition. Inscription is definitive upon payment of registration fees.

How to prepare for the Competition?

Each team is accompanied throughout the Competition (before, during and after) by a tutor; they receive learning materials regularly to assist with preparation and to improve their command of IHL (as well as Human Rights Law, Refugee Law…). All tests during the Competition are conducted orally– no writing is required, other than for the application file.

Why take part in the Competition?

Taking part in the Competition is a unique experience: training on the concrete application of IHL is facilitated by the presence of experts (the jury and tutors). Participation also has a considerable positive effect on personal development: through experience of team work, presentation techniques, communication, stress management… Meeting students coming from the five continents to compete in a friendly tournament on extremely sensitive topics leads to unforgettable memories and enduring friendships.
For students wishing to work in the fields of IHL, international solidarity, International Criminal Law, Refugee Law, participation in the Competition constitutes an important asset in a curriculum vitae, as the professional profile of many former participants shows: it is estimated that nearly 300 out of 1,500 former participants now work in these areas.

What is the cost of participation in the Competition?

Teams must cover the registration fee and their travel expenses. Accommodation and meals are covered by the organizers. Those teams facing particular economic hardship may apply to the organizers for financial support (which may amount to a partial or complete exemption from registration fees and/or assistance with travel costs).

How to obtain more information on the Competition:

You can contact the administration of the Competition at info@concourspictet.org. The Regulations is available on the Internet site of the Competition, as well as a twenty minute film on the Competition.