Vis Moot Solidarity Fund

The Willem C. Vis Moot is a cornerstone of international arbitration, collaboration and one of the most effective programs to promote legal education for students around the world.

Over the last 32 years, this competition has grown from year to year. This growth has not only created an excellent talent pool for the international legal market, but also long-term, cross-border co-operation and friendships. In short, the Vis Moot is a real contribution to breaking down international prejudices and to building networks between people and groups who would otherwise never have exchanged ideas, become friends or helped each other.

It is particularly important that the Vis Moot allows different nations from all regions of the world to be represented and to compete with each other in legal arguments.

From all nations and regions? This could become a story of the past.

With immediate effect, a White House Executive Order froze all foreign funding from the US on 20 January 2025. After 5 months of hard work, it turned out that this freeze affects more than 100 students from Africa, Central Asia and Eastern Europe. These students from close to 20 universities have lost their entire funding and hence the opportunity to take part in oral arguments in Hong Kong and Vienna.

International cooperation, equal opportunities regardless of origin and the strength of local economic performance are central promises of a globalised world and a prerequisite for a path to global freedom and peace.

We need you to preserve these values. The students need you to fulfill their dream and to participate in the final rounds, as each single one has very well deserved over the last semester.

Disclaimer:

This fundraise is organized by Janis Winkler and Robert Cimmino, on behalf of the Vis Moot Solidarity Fund. Janis is a former participant in the Vis Moot, who is closely connected to the affected students and supports alongside the other members of the Vis Moot Solidarity Fund by lecturing on private international law and arbitration for the particular students, who are beneficiaries of this fundraise.

The funds are used to pay for flights, and accommodation of the students (=beneficiaries) to the Final Rounds, which will take place in Vienna and Hong Kong.

The Vis Moot Solidarity Fund manages the funds and will use it on behalf of the beneficiaries, by booking the flights, as well as hotels. This way, it can easily be ensured that the donations unfold their intended purpose and will not be used in other means.

The Vis Moot Solidarity Fund consists of Lawyers, as well as Law Students, which are closely connected to the Vis Moot competition and share a tight network towards the international legal community.