On 21 March 2013 Our Lady of Good Counsel Fatima High School emerged winners of a music and drama competition organized by UNMIL’s Conduct and Discipline Team for schools in Maryland County as part of the Mission’s drive against sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA).

In her keynote speech, County Superintendent Nazarene Brewer Tubman applauded the organizers of the programme, affirming its significance to Maryland and Liberia at large.

“Sexual exploitation and abuse is a serious problem in this nation and I am glad that students are here because it has been reported even in schools,” said Tubman. “It’s my guess that the feedback will also be great,” the Superintendent added.

Emphasizing the role of communities in the fight against SEA, the Head of UNMIL field Office in Maryland Corinna Vigier called for concerted effort in the campaign.

According to the UNMIL’s Conduct and Discipline Officer Celia D. Turkett, the competition was organized in collaboration with Liberia’s Ministry of Gender and UNMIL’s Human Rights section.

While in Harper, Turkett conducted training for UNMIL staff, held meetings with civil society organizations, religious leaders and managers of community radio stations in an effort to rally them behind the campaign against sexual exploitation and abuse.