The prize-giving ceremony for the Concours Aux Coeurs des Mots – the Hearts of Words contest – will take place on Friday, October 20, at 4:30 pm at Monaco’s Hotel and Technical School.

This second edition will be in the presence, and under the patronage, of HSH Prince Albert and under the High Patronage of Michelle Jean, Secretary General of the International Organisation of the French-speaking World.

Ban Ki-moon, the eighth Secretary General of the UN (from 2007 to 2016) said: “Respect for human rights and gender equality are not unattainable ideals. Yet all women and girls in the world still face unequal opportunities and discrimination.”

According to an original idea launched by the Founder of the Association Femmes Leaders Monaco,, Hilde Haneuse Heye, the first contest entitled “Heart of Words” was born in 2012 with the participation of 20 countries in four continents.

Following the resounding success of the young contestants ages 14 to 17, the adventure continues with “Aux cœurs des mots, Women in Light”. This time the organisers have asked the students to highlight women who have made a significant impact and are able to meet challenges in a sometimes very complex context, often working in the shadows.

For this round, 26 schools on four continents participated: Algeria, Belgium, Benin, Bulgaria, Burundi, Canada, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, United States , France, Iran, Lebanon, Madagascar, Mexico, Moldova, Monaco, Poland, Romania, Senegal, Togo, Tunisia and Uruguay.

The international jury, composed of prestigious members from different backgrounds, was headed by Doctor of French and Comparative Literature at the Sorbonne, writer and journalist, Fawzia Zouari.

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