OSCE Court of Conciliation and Arbitration Moot Court explores space activities and artificial intelligence

The OSCE Court of Conciliation and Arbitration’s Moot Court was hosted for the third time by the Faculty of Law of the University of Ljubljana from 11 to 13 November. The Court simulated arbitral proceedings under the provisions of the Convention on Conciliation and Arbitration within the OSCE to give participating students the opportunity to get a closer insight on its provisions and a practical training.

The fictional arbitral tribunal was held within the framework of the 10th Model United Nations Club at the Faculty of Law of the University of Ljubljana conference (MUNLawS), organized by Professor Vasilka Sancin, head of the department of international law at the University of Ljubljana and a member of the Bureau of the CCA. The MUNLawS conference is set up as forum for exchange for young students and future decision-makers on matters regarding international organizations.

Participating students at the opening ceremony of the MUNLawS conference, hosting the OSCE Court of Conciliation and Arbitration’s Moot Court simulation, Faculty of Law, University of Ljubljana, Slovenia 11 November 2022.

Faculty of Law, University of Ljubljana/Nejc Soklič Photo details

Organizers, invited guests, and participating student teams pose during the OSCE Court of Conciliation and Arbitration’s Moot Court simulation in the framework of the MUNLAWS conference, at the University of Ljubljana, Slovenia 11 November 2022.

Faculty of Law, University of Ljubljana/Nejc Soklič Photo details

Student teams participating in the European Council Committee pose with placards reading countries, MUNLawS conference, the University of Ljubljana, Slovenia 11 November 2022.

Faculty of Law, University of Ljubljana/Nejc Soklič Photo details

Audience listens to the address of Borut Pahor, President of the Republic of Slovenia, during the opening session of the MUNLawS conference, hosting the OSCE Court of Conciliation and Arbitration’s Moot Court simulation, at the University of Ljubljana, Slovenia 11 November 2022.

Faculty of Law, University of Ljubljana/Nejc Soklič Photo details

Student team acting as respondent in the fictional arbitral proceedings of the OSCE Court of Conciliation and Arbitration, set up in the framework of the MUNLAWS conference, at the University of Ljubljana, Slovenia 11 November 2022.

Faculty of Law, University of Ljubljana/Nejc Soklič Photo details

Panel of arbitrators in the fictional case at the the OSCE Court of Conciliation and Arbitration’s Moot Court simulation in the framework of the MUNLAWS conference, at the University of Ljubljana, Slovenia 11 November 2022.

Faculty of Law, University of Ljubljana/Nejc Soklič Photo details

Participating students at the Faculty of Law walk up the stairs to attend the MUNLawS conference, hosting the OSCE Court of Conciliation and Arbitration’s Moot, at the University of Ljubljana, Slovenia 11 November 2022.

Faculty of Law, University of Ljubljana/Nejc Soklič Photo details

Audience listening to the welcome address of Christa Allot, on behalf the OSCE Court of Conciliation and Arbitration, at the opening ceremony of the MUNLaWs Conference, Faculty of Law, University of Ljubljana, 11 November 2022.

Faculty of Law, University of Ljubljana/Nejc Soklič Photo details

Students and hosts attend the MUNLAWS conference, hosting the OSCE Court of Conciliation and Arbitration’s Moot Court simulation, University of Ljubljana, Slovenia 11 November 2022.

University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Law/Nejc Soklič Photo details

Audience listens to the welcome addresses at the opening ceremony of the MUNLAWS conference hosting the OSCE Court of Conciliation and Arbitration’s Moot Court simulation, Faculty of Law, University of Ljubljana, Slovenia 11 November 2022.

Faculty of Law, University of Ljubljana/Nejc Soklič Photo details

The conference was opened with a recorded address by Borut Pahor, President of the Republic of Slovenia, as well as welcome messages from Ambassador Juraj Chimel, Ambassador of the Czech Republic to Slovenia; on behalf of the Czech Presidency to the Council of EU, Dr. Marko Rakovec, Director General of the Department for International Law and Protection of Interests, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Slovenia; Christa Allot, Executive Officer, OSCE Court of Conciliation and Arbitration; and Gal Veber, Secretary General of MUNLawS 2022.

This year’s imaginary case involved two fictional States, the Republic of Antlia and the Kingdom of Ruchbah. The case dealt with a joint space agency’s premature launch of a satellite operating software based on artificial intelligence and with allegedly inaccurate information on orbital parameters of space objects and debris. This caused the collision of two satellites, resulting in a loss of revenue for both States involved. Students acted as agents for the claimant and respondent as well as judges at the arbitral tribunal.

This year’s MUNLAWS conference gathered more than 190 students from 26 countries who actively participated in the simulations of the different committees.

The Court of Conciliation and Arbitration within the OSCE based in Geneva provides a set of mechanisms for the peaceful settlement of disputes between States. The Court was established by the Convention of Stockholm, which entered into force on 5 December 1994. To date, 34 States have ratified the Convention.