FHS students to the semi-finals of the Jean-Pictet Competition

The Jean-Pictet Competition is an international competition focused on international humanitarian law. The competition is known for offering participants a unique experience, as the simulations are designed to combine role-playing with legal analysis, reflected in the expression “take the law out of the books.”

From the Swedish Defence University, Cajsa Wendel, Polina Overchenko and Jack Andersson participated, all three of whom are studying the international master's programme in International Operational Law at the Swedish Defence University.

How did it go for you?

"We qualified to the semi-finals after completing six diverse preliminary rounds and a field test! In the semi-finals, we participated in a round modeled on a hearing before the International Criminal Court, which was a particularly valuable experience, as it allowed us to test our knowledge of International Criminal Law alongside IHL", says Cajsa Wendel as a spokesperson for the whole team.

"We are all beyond grateful for our team work. Our support to one another made the intense moments manageable and the reward even greater, as we made sure to enjoy the journey together as well with other participants."

What have you learned or had the opportunity to try?

"Individually we had the goal to be the ones who will learn the most. Without a doubt the competition has given us practical experiences of IHL and insight into how to engage with it practically but also, the importance of understanding your role in the context you will engage in"

"Additionally, worth highlighting is the contribution of the tutors and judges, assessing our team work and personal contribution to each session was invaluable. What will have a real influence on our everyday life since returning home is the mindset developed during the competition. Each session was designed to place us in high-pressure situations that challenged us to act efficiently. Together as a team, we navigated and overcame these challenges."

"This way of seeing challenges as opportunities for growth and change, is something to apply to any situation in our lives. Since leaving the competition, the three of us are even more convinced of the importance of approaching difficulties with the mindset that the challenge is there for us to overcome, individually and together.

What added value does this experience give you (in combination with the programme you are studying) provide?

"As students of international operational law at FHS, this experience bridges the gap between theory and practice by allowing us to apply legal concepts in simulated operational environments. The competition enhanced our practical understanding of IHL and provided valuable insight into how legal professionals operate in real-world contexts!"