Peter Cole will headline a cast of national and internationally acclaimed artists at SKD tomorrow

Thousands of music and entertainment fans are expected to storm the Samuel Kanyon Doe (SKD) sports complex tomorrow for a jamboree kicking off an anti-rape campaign in Liberia. The Government of Liberia in collaboration with UNMIL is taking its anti-rape campaign to another level in a free entertainment show that will include cultural performances, anti-rape dramas and, of course, fantastic musical performances by secular and gospel artistes. The Saturday event which is already being noised in every nook and corner of Monrovia and its environs will blend national and international stars to give the audience a full dose of modern entertainment. Artists such as Liberian international sensation Peter Cole, rastaman Rabbie Nas, Friday the Cell-phone Man, Star is Born champ Moses Swaray, 2007 West African Idol contestant Jerilyn Mulbah, to name a few. Liberia's favorite comedian, Georgio Brutini, will be there to keep fans laughing off their seats. The international line-up includes Nollywood's (Nigeria) movie star Stephanie Okereke, Sierra Leone's Linda Samai (a.k.a. Star Zero) with her hit single “Lighter”; and Ghanaian musician Sidney, all of whom will arrive in Liberia today.

The event will commence at 11:00 a.m. with a cultural and entertainment performances and ease seamlessly into the official part of the program, including an addresses by Vice President Joseph N. Boakai, Deputy SRSG-ROL Henriett Mensa Bonsu, Stephen Kalimu (President, Children's Parliament) and representatives from the Ministry of Gender and Information, in the midst of various performances.

The theme of the concert and the campaign, “She could be your daughter, your mother, your sister, your niece” aims to deter perpetrators, especially men, from resorting to rape and other forms of sexual and gender based violence by highlighting the fact that such acts are criminal as they constitute a violation of basic human rights. Further, the response aims to highlight the legal mechanisms at the disposal of victims and to demonstrate ongoing efforts to reform the judicial system, in particular capacity-building efforts to tackle and prosecute rape cases.

The campaign accompanies efforts to determine the prevailing factors for the commission of the offense; the age bracket of victims and the factors militating against adequate reporting; investigation and prosecution of the offense for better response.

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