Jean-Pictet Competition
The Jean-Pictet Competition is a prestigious and challenging event that brings together talented and passionate individuals to compete in the field of international humanitarian law. As one of the most renowned international law competitions, it provides participants with an opportunity to apply theoretical knowledge to real-world situations, engaging in mock trials, legal negotiations, and crisis simulations.
With a focus on humanitarian law, the competition challenges teams to uphold the principles of justice, human dignity, and the protection of vulnerable populations. Whether participating as a competitor or a supporter, the Jean-Pictet Competition embodies a dedication to advancing global humanitarian efforts and the rule of law.
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At the Observatory on Human Rights at the UN, we are committed to fostering the next generation of leaders in international humanitarian law. As a result, we aim to send participants to the Jean-Pictet Competition on an annual basis, providing them with the opportunity to showcase their skills, deepen their understanding of humanitarian law, and engage in meaningful simulations.
In 2025, we proudly sent two teams—one anglophone and one francophone—to the competition, marking the beginning of what we hope will become a long-standing tradition. This initiative aligns with our vision of empowering individuals to advocate for human rights, justice, and global peace, while creating a lasting impact on the international legal community.
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Under the supervision of Dr. Pascale Fournier - Head of the Observatory - and with the invaluable collaboration of Clara Byk Giroux - previous Leader, Participant of the 47th edition of the Jean-Pictet competition and now Mentor at the Observatory for the Jean-Pictet Competition, Christian Mpabwa - previous Leader, Participant of the 46th edition of the Jean-Pictet competition and now Mentor at the Observatory for the Jean-Pictet Competition, Stéphanie St-Jacques - previous Leader and Participant of the 47th edition of the Jean-Pictet competition, Simona Lombardo - Participant of the 47th edition of the Jean-Pictet competition and now Senior Advisor, Communications & Outreach, and Noël Kabeya - current Leader of the Observatory, we are currently preparing the new team — Adèle Gagnon Pelletier - Leader of the 2024-2025 cohort and now also Advisor, Leadership Program, Mateo Porras Gil - current Leader, and Clara Laplante Bédard - Leader of the 2024-2025 cohort and now Advisor, Children's Rights and Knowledge Dissemination — who will proudly represent the University of Ottawa, Faculty of Law - Civil Law Section at the 48th edition of the Jean-Pictet Competition, in its French-speaking edition, to be held in Dilijan, Armenia, from February 6 to February 13, 2026.
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This year, we are also honoured to welcome external judges for our moot court practices, including judges from the Court of Appeal, members of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), members of the team of the Commission des droits de la personne, practicing lawyers, and the Pilots and Collaborators of the Observatory. Their expertise and commitment provide invaluable guidance, rigor, and realism to the team’s preparation, greatly enhancing the educational and professional value of this experience.
Our Anglophone Team in Bali, Indonesia
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From February 22 to March 1, 2025, the anglophone team of the Observatory on Human Rights at the UN of the University of Ottawa — Stéphanie St-Jacques - Leader of the 2024-2025 cohort, Clara Byk Giroux - previous Leader and now Mentor at the Observatory for the Jean-Pictet Competition, and Simona Lombardo - Senior Advisor, Communications & Outreach (from left to right) — proudly represented the Observatory at the Jean-Pictet Competition in Denpasar, Bali.
As the only Canadian teamamong 49 participating teams, they stood out for their teamwork and integrity. Throughout the week, the team applied International Humanitarian Law (IHL) through a series of immersive armed-conflict simulations, showcasing the Observatory’s commitment to experiential learning, principled advocacy, and the development of globally engaged jurists. Their participation exemplifies one of the Observatory’s core values: that the law is not only studied — the law is lived, the law is pleaded, and the law requires concrete engagement with the world.
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This achievement was also highlighted by the Faculty of Law, Civil Law Section, of the University of Ottawa, which published a feature on the team’s outstanding return to the prestigious Jean-Pictet Competition.
Our Francophone Team in Antalya, Turkey
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From February 8 to 15, 2025, the francophone team representing the Observatory on Human Rights at the UN of the University of Ottawa — Christian Mpabwa - previous Leader and today Mentor at the Observatory for the Jean-Pictet Competition, Raphaël Grenier-Benoît - Collaborator at the Observatory, and Dr. Coline Moreau - now Head of Research, Academic Training and Supervision (from left to right) — competed in the francophone edition of the Jean-Pictet Competition in Antalya, Türkiye.
Selected among 20 francophone teams, these three exceptional doctoral students applied International Humanitarian Law (IHL) through demanding and realistic armed-conflict simulations. Their work reflected both the rigor and curiosity that define the Observatory and its mission. Like their anglophone counterparts, they embodied the Observatory’s conviction that the law goes far beyond textbooks: law is practiced, argued, and grounded in a concrete commitment to populations affected by conflict and injustice.
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In particular, Dr. Coline Moreau, Head of Research, Academic Training and Supervision and PhD candidate in Criminology at the University of Ottawa, distinguished herself by ranking among the top three oralists and becoming a finalist for the prestigious Gilbert-Apollis Prize.