A/HRC/12/42 page 16 schools should be voluntary,31 this is not always the case. Moreover, where reports of violations or initiations by force are made, law enforcement and local authorities are usually reluctant to handle the cases or even press criminal charges. 31. Among Liberian rural communities, adjudication of disputes through trials by ordeal or the “traditional way” is often preferred. Difficulty in accessing justice through the formal system, particularly for rural communities, may partly explain this preference, especially as these adjudicatory mechanisms, sanctioned by the Hinterland Rules and Regulations, deliver quick remedies.32 During the period under review the Legal and Judicial Systems Support Division of UNMIL, in collaboration with national partners and international NGOs, held several consultative forums to discuss whether the Hinterland Rules and Regulations create a separate legal system for rural communities and, if that is the case, the possibility of harmonizing it with the formal justice system for the benefit of all. These discussions are still ongoing. III. HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVITIES OF THE UNITED NATIONS MISSION IN LIBERIA 32. The Human Rights and Protection Section (HRPS) presently has a total of 35 human rights officers charged with executing the mandate of HRPS as outlined in paragraph 3 (l) and (m) of Security Council resolution 1509 (2003) establishing UNMIL. Accordingly, the Section is required to: (a) Contribute towards international efforts to protect and promote human rights in Liberia, with particular attention to vulnerable groups within the capabilities of UNMIL and in close cooperation with other United Nations agencies, related organizations, governmental organizations, and non-governmental organizations; (b) Ensure an adequate human rights presence, capacity and expertise within UNMIL to carry out human rights promotion, protection and monitoring activities. A. Monitoring and reporting 33. In carrying out its monitoring mandate and to ensure comprehensive coverage of the country, the Section maintains field offices in all 15 counties of Liberia. Through its monitoring activities, the Section has identified human rights issues and concerns and engaged with the relevant authorities to address them. 31 Responses of Edward Walker II, Director of Culture in the Ministry of Internal Affairs, and Zanzan Karwor, Chairman of the National Traditional Council of Liberia, during a workshop organized on 28 March 2008 by HRPS to discuss harmful traditional practices and the role of the Ministry of Internal Affairs in the administration of traditional justice. 32 These perceptions were confirmed in a yet-to-be-published research project on the experiences and perception of local justice carried out by the United States Institute of Peace in collaboration with George Washington University and the Centre for the Study of African Economies.