Moot court competition reshaped students views on responsibility in the mining sector

The latest episode of our podcast explores the legal and societal dimensions of the mining industry from a student perspective. The discussion focuses on an international moot court competition centered on a fictional rare earth deposit and the controversial issues surrounding it.

Guests on the episode are fifth-year law students Pirkko Viljakainen and Ranja Räsänen from the University of Lapland. Both were drawn to the study of law through a strong interest in societal issues.

The world’s largest moot court competition focused on mining themes

Moot court competitions are now an integral part of legal studies. Viljakainen and Räsänen participated in the Philip C. Jessup competition held in Washington, D.C., which is the world’s largest international law moot court competition. The competition simulates court proceedings based on a fictional case.

This year, the theme was closely linked to the mining industry, and mining companies were among the sponsors. In the case, a state had discovered rare earth elements in a natural area significant to Indigenous peoples. The legal questions revolved around balancing the state’s economic interests with the rights of Indigenous communities.

Indigenous rights and the FPIC principle at the core

From a legal perspective, one of the key issues in the competition was the FPIC principle (Free, Prior and Informed Consent). Viljakainen explains that it refers to a process that states must follow to maintain Indigenous consent for activities taking place on their lands. Information, for example about a planned mining project, must be provided to Indigenous communities in advance, in an understandable form, and consent must be given voluntarily.

In addition to Indigenous rights, the case also addressed procedural issues, international criminal cooperation between states, and questions of state immunity in situations where activities cause accidents or incidents in another state’s territory, Räsänen notes.

Perceptions of the mining industry evolved

The demanding competition helped students develop not only subject-matter expertise and research skills, but also presentation and writing skills, resilience under pressure, and the ability to operate in an international environment. At the same time, it broadened their perspectives on the mining industry.

“My initial assumption was somewhat more negative. During the trip, as we interacted with sponsors and explored their websites, it became clear that responsible practices truly matter to mining companies. My perception became more positive as I learned more about the topic,” Räsänen says.

Viljakainen adds that the competition also highlighted how closely the mining industry is linked to national security and security of supply. Media coverage often focuses on exceptional cases and problems in the sector, which can distort the overall picture.

Young people expect transparency and concrete actions on responsibility

Viljakainen and Räsänen share a clear message: responsibility is a topic that strongly interests young people today. The industry should communicate its sustainability efforts more boldly.

“Companies should use the channels where young people are today—social media—to share information,” Viljakainen suggests.

Räsänen emphasizes the importance of transparency: “Highlighting transparency in operations is something that could improve the public perception of the mining industry among young people,” she concludes.

 

The seventh episode of our podcast is titled From the University of Lapland to Washington – Behind the scenes of a moot court competition. Listen to the episode on FMG’s YouTube channel.

What did you think of the episode? We warmly welcome your feedback and ideas for future topics and guests.