Excellencies,
Ladies and gentlemen,
Dear participants,

It is a pleasure to also welcome you all to the opening of the 7th Nelson Mandela World Human Rights Moot Court Competition. I would like to thank the organizers for inviting me to address you at this impressive competition, the final round of which will be held -most appropriately- in our very Chamber of the Human Rights Council, on Human Rights Day.

This competition brings together top law students from all over the world to debate important human rights issues. And, I must say, the issues you are addressing are those with which we deal with in our work daily and are very real. For example, the intersection of human rights with global challenges such as migration and climate change, which you will also be reflecting upon today, is part of our core work at the Council through our discussions, initiatives and resolutions.

We could all be more inspired by your energy and enthusiasm as advocates and future leaders of human rights. We need more people like you to continue the work of the Human Rights Council, the main political forum for the promotion and protection of human rights worldwide.

I will keep my remarks very short and close here to allow all of you to commence what I'm sure will be an engaging and lively competition.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Dear participants,

I wish you a fruitful debate and the best of luck to all.

I thank you for your attention