Two young women took the top prizes in the national pleading and public-speaking contest organized by the Office of the Citizen Protector (OPC). The final was held on Friday, October 23, at the Hotel Montana in Pétion-Ville, iciHaiti reported.

The theme was “Women's rights and elections.” In the school category, Lisa Faïmi Joseph, a former student at Institution Saint-Louis de Bourdon, won with a score of 83 out of 100. She received 50,000 gourdes, a laptop and the chance of a one-year internship at the OPC. In the university category, first prize went to Daïna Silfise, a student at the Faculty of Law and Economic Sciences (FDSE).

Justice Minister Patrick Pélissier, electoral councilor Yves Marie Édouard and Citizen Protector Jean Wilner Morin attended. Morin congratulated the finalists and called for women to be better included in Haitian political life.

Minister Pedrica Saint Jean praised the contest as a way to promote human rights and to build critical thinking and civic engagement among young people.