The Chaloka Beyani International Refugee Law Moot Court

EACFMD is the custodian of the Chaloka Beyani International Refugee Law Moot Court Competition. EACFMD conceptualised the Chaloka Beyani International Refugee Law Moot Court Competition as an advocacy platform for law students to engage critically with contemporary refugee law issues.

The moot is named after Dr. Chaloka Beyani who was appointed as the Special Rapporteur on the Human Rights of Internally Displaced Persons by the Human Rights Council in September 2010 and exercised his functions from November 2010 until October 2016. It seeks to honour his dedication and inspire the next generation of refugee & forced migration  practitioners, policymakers and humanitarians.

Dr. Chaloka was appointed by the African Union to draft & negotiate The African Union Convention for the Protection and Assistance of Internally Displaced Persons in Africa (the Kampala Convention) which was adopted by the African Union on 23rd October 2009 in Kampala, Uganda.

The best overall oralist will be awarded the George Okoth-Obbo award & internship with EACFMD. The award is named after George  Okoth-Obbo, former UNHCR Assistant High Commissioner for Refugees as well as Assistant Secretary-General and Secretary and Head of the Secretariat of the United Nations Secretary-General’s High-Level Panel on Internal Displacement.

 

2025 Thematic Focus: Refugee right to work and access to decent jobs.

Thanks to generous support from the Heinrich Böll Stiftung Foundation,  the 2025 inaugural edition  of the moot will be held at Strathmore University in November 12-14. Through simulated legal proceedings before a hypothetical tribunal, moot participants will grapple with complex legal questions surrounding the right to work access to decent jobs and social protection of refugees among others.

Participants will interrogate and apply state obligations under international and regional refugee law frameworks. The competition will challenge students to apply legal principles to real-world scenarios, offering them an opportunity to deepen their understanding of international refugee protection mechanisms and contribute to the development of progressive legal interpretations.

The following real life issues will be incorporated in the moot’s hypothetical problem:-

  • Unclear procedures in acquisition of refugee identification documents.
  • The role of law in effective access to the labour market for refugees
  • Impact of encampment policies and practices on refugee labour market participation
  • Administrative barriers and processes for obtaining movement passes.
  • Disconnect between legislation and government commitments to integrate refugees into education systems.
  • Challenges in realizing commitments made under the Djibouti Declaration on Refugee Education and the Kampala Declaration on Jobs, Livelihoods and Self-Reliance for Refugees, Returnees and Host Communities in IGAD Region to integrate refugees.
  • Refugee access to finance.
  • Constrains and milestones in recognition of prior learning for forcibly displaced persons.

The Incorporation of these matters seeks not only raise awareness of refugee rights to work and other labour market outcomes but also seeks to cultivate the next generation of legal practitioners, scholars, and policymakers dedicated to advancing refugee rights. By building a sense of critical engagement with international refugee law, the competition aspires to build on ILO PROSPECTS efforts to achieve better labour market outcomes.

Additionally, the moot will seek to engage with key stakeholders such as the department of refugees, humanitarian and development actors so  to ensuring national ownership and the sustainability of existing policies and legislation .

The moot is envisaged to meet the following objectives:-

  1. To encourage advocacy and practice of International Refugee Law and its practical application in the region. The moot will serve as an opportunity to advocate for decent and productive work as a durable solution to displacement which can benefit everyone, as a win-win approach lessening dependency on humanitarian assistance, giving back dignity to those affected by displacement.
  2. To create a pool of future practitioners with a keen interest in refugee protection by exposing them to the procedures and practice of international refugee law in various tribunals and legal institutions.

iii.        To promote research in the area of refugee law, particularly on the right to work , social protection and economic inclusion of refugees, while capturing the unique challenges and opportunities in the African context.

  1. To develop and nurture legal research, writing, analytical, and advocacy skills of participants in the area of refugee law through both academic paper presentations and oral advocacy rounds.
  2. To create a platform for the interaction of participants with fellow students, practitioners, and experts in the field of refugee law, allowing them to engage with pressing legal and policy issues.
  3. To disseminate knowledge and understanding of refugee law principles, including the protection mechanisms under the 1951 Refugee Convention, regional refugee protection instruments, and relevant state obligations.

vii.       To build social partnerships between EACFMD and other institutions, legal practitioners, and policymakers to strengthen engagement in refugee law and long-term collaboration.

viii.      To provide an opportunity for outstanding academic papers on refugee law to be published in an academic repository or journal, contributing to the broader legal discourse on refugee protection.