Organizers of Haiti’s 9th annual National Human Rights Moot Court Competition have announced a late registration window for prospective participants, giving eligible law students and recent graduates an additional opportunity to join the July 2026 event set to take place in Port-au-Prince. The Bureau des Droits Humains en Haïti (BDHH), the organizing body behind the competition, confirmed that the supplementary preselection registration list will close at 8:00 p.m. local time on Friday, June 26, 2026. All new applications must be submitted via the official online form hosted at https://forms.gle/bWwBjBoP89SHBfUB9.
This year’s competition is open to a defined pool of eligible candidates: law students who have completed a minimum of three years of study at any recognized Haitian university, including fourth-year enrollees and candidates currently working on their undergraduate thesis. Eligibility is also extended to law graduates who earned their license within the past three years. The competition bars participants who are already enrolled at the Haitian Bar School or have taken the oath as a trainee attorney. In addition, candidates who previously advanced to the final round (including semi-finalists, finalists, and past winners) of earlier editions of the competition are not eligible to compete again, though past participants who did not reach the final stage are welcome to reapply.
Candidates who submitted their applications during earlier registration phases do not need to resubmit materials, but organizers ask that all previously registered candidates reach out to the competition coordination team to confirm their availability for the remainder of the selection process.
The competition is structured in two distinct stages: a written preselection round, followed by the live oral argument competition scheduled for July 2026 in Port-au-Prince. Preselected candidates will receive further details about the rules and logistics for the oral stage ahead of the event.
This year’s written preselection centers on the timely theme: “Climate Justice and Economic Development.” Submitted dissertations will be evaluated by a panel of judges based on four core criteria: thematic relevance, strength of argumentation, depth of legal knowledge, and demonstrated commitment to human rights principles.
Organizers have outlined clear formatting requirements for all written submissions to ensure consistency. Dissertations must not exceed three pages, must be formatted in 12-point Times New Roman font with single line spacing. Exceeding the page limit will count against candidates during evaluation. All submissions must be saved as either a Word or PDF file, and named using the format “CONCOURS9_LASTNAME_FIRSTNAME”.
All applications require supporting documentation to verify candidate eligibility, which may include a transcript or completion certificate for third-year studies, proof of enrollment in fourth-year law, a fourth-year transcript, a thesis defense record, or an official law degree license. Incomplete applications or submissions received after the June 26 deadline will not be considered for evaluation.
After submitting an application, candidates will receive an automatic confirmation email to acknowledge receipt of their materials. Results of the written preselection round will be announced via both email and the BDHH official website (www.bdhhaiti.org) by the end of June 2026. For candidates with questions about eligibility, the application process, or competition logistics, the BDHH can be reached via email at concours@bdhhaiti.org or by phone at +509 3606-8645, and additional information is posted on the organization’s website.