From March 7 to 9, 2025, the 12th International Criminal Court Moot Court Competition (ICCMCC) National Rounds were held in Luzhou, Sichuan Province. The Fudan University team delivered an outstanding performance, winning the First Prize, the Best Memorial Award, and securing qualification for the Hague International Rounds.

I. Competition Overview

ICCMCC is a prestigious global event in the field of international law. Based on the procedural and substantive rules of the International Criminal Court (ICC), it challenges participants to address complex legal issues under the Rome Statute. Each year, the competition centers on three core dispute areas: procedural, substantive, and evidentiary matters. Teams are required to submit written memorials for three parties—Prosecution, Defense, and Victims/Government—and to participate in rigorous oral pleadings conducted in English.

To strengthen the cultivation of foreign-related legal talent and enhance Chinese students’ proficiency in English courtroom advocacy, the ICCMCC China National Rounds have been held annually since its inception. This year, the event attracted 60 teams from leading law schools, including Peking University, Wuhan University, and China University of Political Science and Law. After a rigorous memorial evaluation phase, 27 teams advanced to the in-person oral rounds in Luzhou.

II. Competition Journey

During the competition, the Fudan University team faced strong opponents from Peking University School of Transnational Law, East China University of Political Science and Law, and China University of Political Science and Law. The team demonstrated excellent legal knowledge and English proficiency, achieving outstanding results. In the memorial phase, Fudan University team earned the Best Memorial Award. In the main competition phase, the team ranked among the top five, advancing to the semifinals and winning the first prize.

With a top-five overall ranking in the semi-finals and supplementary rounds, Fudan earned the honor of representing China at the Hague International Rounds, alongside other qualified teams from Shanghai University of International Business and Economics, Wuhan University, Ningbo University, and Southwest University of Political Science and Law.

III. Team Composition

The Fudan University delegation was led by Student Coach XU Cenyu (2024 graduate student), with GONG Junwei, WU Siying, and SHAN Yichen (2023 undergraduates) serving as oralists, and LIU Zilin and LIN Zhuoer (2023 undergraduates) as researchers. Additional support was provided by members of the Chinese-language ICCMCC team, including ZHANG Junhui, YANG Lexuan, LIANG Yiwen, and XUE Xuran, as well as former participants Saira Turner, ZENG Yingmiao, and HUANG Xinyu, who assisted with internal practice sessions.

In recent years, Fudan University teams have made significant strides in moot court competitions, thanks to the strong support of Fudan University Law School. Particularly in the ICCMCC, the team has secured national top-five finishes, claimed First Prizes, and earned the Best Memorial Award in both the 2024 and 2025 editions, demonstrating their sustained excellence in legal advocacy and academic rigor.

The Law School’s substantial support and funding for its moot court teams have provided students with valuable opportunities to participate in major international competitions, broaden their global perspectives, hone their professional skills, and showcase Fudan University Law School’s strength in talent cultivation and its commitment to internationalization.