Five Grahamstown matric pupils left for Germany and Poland on Friday 20 May, to participate in the Model International Criminal Court (MICC) trials in Krzyzowa, Poland.
Five Grahamstown matric pupils left for Germany and Poland on Friday 20 May, to participate in the Model International Criminal Court (MICC) trials in Krzyzowa, Poland.
Buka Gubevu, Ashton Coltman, Jarrah Fluxman, Milagre Lang and Danielle Walker flew to Berlin and then travelled by bus to Krzyzowa where they are accommodated in a castle on the Kreisau Estate.
The Rhodes University Law Clinic selected the five local pupils to represent South Africa along with teams from 11 other countries in the MICC schools event.
Terwin de Vos of the Law Clinic accompanied the South African team to ensure that all runs smoothly.
The German and Polish organisers will provide training sessions and workshops on human rights, international criminal law and the workings of the International Criminal Court of Justice.
Over the five days in Krzyzowa, the sixty pupils will participate in four simulated trials that have already been argued before the International Court of Justice.
They will learn about international law as they take on roles of prosecutors, defence lawyers, judges and journalists in the international legal system.
They will discuss the judgements from their own perspectives on law and justice and learn about foreign cultures and perceptions.
The trials are based on real cases before international criminal tribunals.