The National Debating League • The National Debating League

Research Area #1: (Group A: Grade 10+)

The International Criminal Court

Suggested Readings:

Institutional Video: ICC at a Glance: The International Criminal Court (ICC) is the world's first permanent international criminal court, which is established and governed by the Rome Statute. It is located in The Hague, the Netherlands.
ICC Case Database: Recent cases held at the ICC.
ICC trial: Uganda's war victims seek justice: The first of five former commanders from a rebel army from Uganda is due to appear at the International Criminal Court.
Ask The Court: Verdict in the Ongwen case at the ICC, 4 February 2021: On 4 February 2021, Trial Chamber IX of the International Criminal Court found Dominic Ongwen guilty for a total of 61 comprising crimes against humanity and war crimes, committed in Northern Uganda between 1 July 2002 and 31 December 2005. ICC Spokesperson Fadi El Abdallah answers frequently asked questions on the judgment and next steps.
Three West African countries to quit International Criminal Court: Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger have announced they will immediately withdraw from the International Criminal Court (ICC), labelling it an instrument of neo-colonialist repression

Research Area #2: (Group B: Grade 8-9)

Fossil fuel extraction projects in Africa

Suggested Readings:

Uganda Targets ‘First Oil Production’ This Year, Timeline Optimistic, Says Expert: The nation of 52 million people is a step closer to becoming Africa’s latest oil exporter.
Algeria opens new oil and gas bids as Middle East war strains markets: Algeria launched a fresh call for international bids for hydrocarbon concessions, seeking to boost energy investment as global markets reel from the war in the Middle East.
New draft fracking rules spark fresh debate: South Africa first imposed a fracking moratorium in 2011 after public outcry and litigation from environmental groups alarmed by risks to the arid and fragile Karoo Basin. That moratorium is now ostensibly lifted.
Nigerian Oil and the Disappearing Money | Start Here: Nigeria has the biggest oil reserves in Africa but who’s cashing in? Nigeria is Africa’s top oil producer and has its biggest economy. But it’s also coping with crushing levels of poverty. So where does all that oil money go?

Research Area #3: (Group C: Grade 6 to 7)

Artemis II

Suggested Readings:

Artemis II Launches Astronauts to the Moon (Official NASA Recap): Artemis II’s SLS (Space Launch System) rocket lifted off from Launch Pad 39B at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, at 6:35 p.m. EDT (2235 UTC) on April 1, 2026, sending NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and CSA (Canadian Space Agency) astronaut Jeremy Hansen on an approximately 10-day test flight around the Moon and back aboard their Orion spacecraft.
First stop, the Moon. Next stop, Mars? Why Nasa's mission matters: The Artemis programme has taken years of work, involved thousands of people and is estimated to have cost $93bn to date.

Pre-released Motion #4: (Group D: Grade 4 to 5)

Children should be allowed to use AI to help write their debate speeches

Suggested Readings:

How AI actually works | BBC Ideas: Started using AI, but not sure how to get the best out of it? This is the guide for you.
AI can do your homework. Now what?: Vox interviewed students and teachers on how schools should handle the rise of the chatbots.
AI Hallucinations Explained: Watch this episode of AI Explained to learn differences between these two chat experiences and explore how conversational AI enables more efficient and intelligent communication across various applications.
Glue pizza and eat rocks: Google AI search errors go viral: Google's new artificial intelligence (AI) search feature is facing criticism for providing erratic, inaccurate answers.
What screens really do to your child’s brain development | BBC News: The BBC’s Senior Education Reporter, Vanessa Clarke, looks at how screen time could impact children’s brain development.