We have decided to collaborate with Jorge Meza Flores, the current Assistant Executive Secretary for the Petition and Case System at the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR), since May 1, 2022, to write the 2025 hypothetical case. Jorge has held various positions within the IACHR, including Coordinator of the Case Section and the Precautionary Measures Section, as well as specialist in case management for the former Court Group and the Rapporteurship on Human Rights Defenders. He has a Master of Legal Studies from Georgetown University with a Certification in Human Rights, and a law degree from the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM). He has also taught public international law and human rights at UNAM’s Faculty of Law. His extensive professional experience and academic background have equipped him with a comprehensive understanding of the various mechanisms within the Inter-American Human Rights System.

This remarkable collaboration between Jorge and the Moot Court Competition is part of a cooperation agreement between AUWCL and the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, aimed at implementing the Inter-American system in all its forms and fostering shared projects.

To develop the hypothetical case for the 30th edition, Jorge Meza is joined by two Co-Authors: Marina de Almeida Rosa and Nydia María Juárez González. Marina, a Brazilian lawyer specializing in gender issues, currently serves as a consultant in Section of Cases III at the Executive Secretariat of Petitions, Cases, and Friendly Settlements of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights. She is also pursuing an LLM in International Human Rights Law and Humanitarian Law at American University Washington College of Law, where she actively contributes to the Academy on Human Rights and Humanitarian Law. Marina holds a Master’s in Public Law from the University of Vale do Rio dos Sinos, supported by a CAPES/PROEX scholarship from the Brazilian Ministry of Education, and a specialization in International Law from the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul. Before her tenure at the Commission, she engaged extensively with issues related to human mobility in both academic and civil society.

Nydia María Juárez González is a Guatemalan lawyer specializing in human rights. Since 2020, she has served as a consultant and human rights specialist in the Rapporteurship on Human Mobility at the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR). In this role, Nydia has played a vital part in strategic monitoring and the development of inter-American standards for identifying and protecting victims of crimes in migratory contexts, including human trafficking, migration regularization, international protection, and the right to nationality while preventing statelessness.

Prior to her work at the IACHR, Nydia was an advisor at the Presidential Commission for the Coordination of Executive Policy in Human Rights Matters (COPREDEH) in Guatemala and served as a coordinating attorney at the Office of the Human Rights Ombudsman. She has also provided expertise to various civil society organizations, focusing on the prosecution and punishment of human trafficking.The chosen theme is indeed highly relevant and deserves deeper reflection, especially as it sits at the intersection of urgent social justice issues and human rights advocacy. Human trafficking has escalated into a critical global problem, affecting millions and crossing borders with alarming ease. This dark reality not only strips individuals of their dignity and freedom but also poses significant challenges to societal integrity and security.

In addressing this issue, it is essential to safeguard human rights, which serve as the foundation for a more just society. Upholding these rights empowers individuals, builds community resilience and enables effective prevention and response strategies. By prioritizing human rights in the fight against trafficking, we not only protect vulnerable people, but also foster a culture of respect, accountability and empowerment. This inclusive approach is crucial to dismantling the systems that allow trafficking to flourish, ensuring that all people can live free from exploitation and fear. We also look forward to covering unexplored angles related to human trafficking. Working with attorneys at the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights is a real privilege because it means that the Competition will actually reflect what the best brains in the Inter-American System have thought about the applicable standards and how to advance their development.

We hope this topic will encourage participants to reflect on how our strategies and approaches to combat human trafficking can be strengthened while ensuring the protection of human rights. By fostering a healthy discussion on this critical issue, we aim to generate innovative ideas and legal solutions that address the complex challenges of trafficking within the Inter-American system.