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Univen’s School of Law participates in the 19th African Human Rights Moot Court Competition in Cotonou, Benin

L-R Mr Edmond Mujaya, Ms.  Mmabatho Segodi, Mr. Hagenmeier

Two students, Ms.  Mmabatho Segodi and Mr Edmond Mujaya, represented Univen at the 19th African Human Rights Moot Court Competition which was held from 4 until 9 October 2010 at the University de Abomey Calavi in Cotonou, Benin, West Africa. The team was led by Mr. Hagenmeier who is a lecturer in Public Law and coordinator of UNIVEN’s International Relations Office.  The team showed a solid performance at the competition.

The competition is the largest gathering of law lecturers and students in Africa and is organised every year in a different African country by the University of Pretoria Human Rights Centre in collaboration with a local host University.  It promotes excellence human rights education and the collaboration of students in the spirit of Ubuntu. It is held at different African universities law faculties every year.

Asked on her experience Ms Segodi said that she loved every moment of it, especially meeting the teams from different universities on the African Continent. “From the moment I set foot in Benin I felt welcomed. Everything was well organised, starting with the shuttles at the airport and the smooth check-in at our Hotels .The Beninise are as warm as their weather. It felt good to compete against the best in the continent and still stand our ground”. Mr Mujaya commented that the trip was an eye opener: “We learned to think quickly and thoroughly. We even learned a little French and Portuguese. Benin is an impressive country with stunning scenery ”.