The first regional rounds of the WMILAR took place at one of India’s leading law schools—NALSAR University of Law, Hyderabad (India) between 26 and 30 August 2024. Kindly hosted by the Animal Law Centre (ALC) of NALSAR University, featuring careers-oriented training courses, talks by high-profile speakers, and, of course, spirited mooting, the event showcased the power of moot courts to inspire the next generation of legal professionals. Our biggest event yet, 15 teams of 60+ participants from universities in India and Nepal, 22 student volunteers, 13 judges, 5 training experts, 3 speakers, and 3 evaluators came together to ensure that the WMILAR @ NALSAR marked a significant moment in the history of Animal Law—the very first rounds of the world’s first global animal rights law moot competition and training courses!
Here’s a fun little highlights video made by our wonderful Communications team.
Participants spent the first three days engaged in a specially-designed training course delivered by five expert trainers. Students had the chance to learn practical skills that will benefit them throughout their career, gaining the grounding needed to make solid legal arguments and win legal battles.
The competition was then held across two days, with eight teams participating in person and six teams joining online. Each university team had been presented with the moot problem—a detailed scenario drawing on real-life legal and social realities—, leading to innovative ideas and lively legal argumentation. The theme was the interaction of the rights of animals, humans, and nature, and how to balance these forces to ensure equal protection for the rights of all. By thinking through the complexities of animal rights and international law over the course of several weeks, and arguing their case in a simulated courtroom, participants were provided with vital practical experience to develop their legal skills and knowledge. The competition showcased the potential of innovative thinking in using the law to defend the interest of animals. The judges acknowledged the incredible contributions of all participants for their original ideas and persuasive arguments.
Before the mooting began, an inspirational opening ceremony set the scene. Ms. Ankita Shanker of the WMILAR and Mr. Vivek Mukherjee of the ALC of NALSAR University welcomed participants.
Esteemed international lawyer, Mr. Anees Ahmed, Director of Evidence Management at the United Nations Investigative Team to Promote Accountability for the Crimes Committed by Da’esh/ISIL (UNITAD), delivered the opening address on the topic of ‘Global Peace through Global Justice: How the Law Can Secure a Better Future for Us All’.
A host of respected legal professionals came together to judge the moot competition, including Prof. Kokila Konasinghe, Ms. Shreya Paropkari, Ms. Brinda Nandakumar, Mr. Jayasimha Nugahelli, Dr. Sohini Mahapatra, Dr. Eduardo Kapapelo, Mr. Armand Tanoh, Ms. Shama Abbasi, Ms. Mishi Aggarwal, Ms. Chhaya Bharadwaj, Ms. Nandini Biswas, Mr. Vivek Mukherjee, and Ms. Ankita Shanker—a stellar line-up of judges indeed!
Huge congratulations to all participants for their invaluable contributions to the lively and original discussions. Special praise must go to the winning team, National Law University, Jodhpur (India), and runners-up, Maharashtra National Law University, Mumbai (India). Individual prizes were awarded to Daksh Dhariwal of Gujarat National Law University (India) for Best Oralist, and the team from Dr. B.R. Ambedkar National Law University, Sonepat (India) for Best Memo.
Prizes included a research fellowship with Prof. Amanda Whitfort and a litigation traineeship with Mr. Gopal Sankaranarayan, as well as a range of other internships and research fellowships with organisations such as Animal Law Centre of NALSAR University of Law, Compassion Unlimited Plus Action (CUPA), Humane Society International/India (HSI India), Mercy for Animals (MFA), People For Animals Public Policy Foundation (PFA), Samayu, Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation Centre (WRRC), and WMILAR.
After the mooting was over, a grand closing ceremony marked the end of a successful event. Among expert interventions in this ceremony were speeches from one of India’s leading environmental lawyers, Mr. Ritwick Dutta, Founder of the Legal Initiative for Forest and Environment (LIFE), and People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) India’s Lead Legal Counsel, Ms. Arunima Kedia. Sponsors, in their address, also thanked the WMILAR for allowing them the opportunity to be on the right side of history. Moreover, the event featured a cultural performance by talented kuchipudi (a local classical dance form) artists from Our Sacred Space, who enacted themes such as environmentalism and fundamental rights.
We were lucky enough to enjoy delicious plant-based catering—from meals to drinks to snacks—throughout, provided by Simi’s World Vegan Cafe, Hyderabad. Participants also had the chance to visit educational and merchandise stalls organised by PETA India, ALC, and WMILAR, and talk to animal rights campaigners.
The WMILAR is grateful to HSI India, who kindly sponsored the event, and to Craigslist Charitable Foundation (CCF), Jindal Global Law School (JGLS) of Jindal Global University (JGU), and The Pollination Project (TPP), whose kind support through general sponsorship helps fund the activities of the unified development of animal law from a global perspective.
In addition to stimulating participants’ intellectual and research skills, numerous attendees, ranging from volunteers to participants to judges, reached out asking how to transition to veganism/vegetarianism (as a first step), given that they could no longer ignore the plight of animals after being confronted with the moot problem and the issues it highlighted.
Participants credited the WMILAR with fostering the realisation of animals’ inherent worth, and many participants, volunteers, etc. came to ask WMILAR team members about transitioning to a vegan lifestyle, as the moot had forced them to confront the reality of animal exploitation, to which they could no longer turn a blind eye. Some students even decided on a career in animal rights, further to which the WMILAR offered a number of internships to launch their career in this realm. See what some participants had to say here and here.
