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The Advocacy Project seeks to help community-based advocates produce, disseminate and use information, and so become more effective advocates for human rights and social justice.

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Solidarité Féminine pour la Paix et le Développement Intégral

Democratic Republic of the Congo Tel: + (243) 815 664 399 Email SOFEPADI

• Mission
• Advocacy
• Social Change
• Information / News from SOFEPADI
• Networking

Mission

SOFEPADI’s mission is to promote and protect the rights of women and children. Operating in Beni and Ituri, SOFEPADI is actively involved in seeking justice for victims of the widespread sexual violence committed by militia and members of the DRC military.  SOFEPADI seeks to break the cycle of violence by helping survivors file charges and by promoting justice reform.

Advocacy Traditional dance between different communities of refugees from Ituri to promote peaceful cohabitation between war refugees and local residents.

• SOFEPADI  trains and mentors grassroots women’s groups to document and report on cases of sexual violence.
• It also provides medical, psychosocial and legal support to victims, as well as carries out human rights education to challenge social stigmas attached to rape.
• The organization monitors, documents, and reports cases of sexual violence to local authorities and to the International Criminal Court.
• It educates government and military authorities on the scope and nature of sexual violence as well provides relevant legal protections that support women’s rights.
• SOFEPADI educates communities about the law and pressures government officials to enforce it. 
• It is involved in the broadcast of radio programs that help counter sexual violence. It has to date presented 25 radio programs in indigenous languages during the elections.
• It has trained 51 women to work as election observers and report about fraud.
• The organization initiates dialogue between local judicial personnel and civil society organizations on how to challenge the culture of impunity. 
• Also, it supports the socio-economic advancement of women, especially those who have been victims of sexual violence, by allocating startup funds and trade apprenticeships.
• SOFEPADI lobbies for legal reform in laws that discriminate against women.
• It facilitates the participation of indigenous and local women in elections and literacy programs. Also, it provides education for girls abandoned by their parents. 
• The organization has a Peace Education initiative, which trains women in conflict resolution and mediation and supports activities like dances and soccer games to create seeds of peace in conflict affected communities.
• It organizes day programs where victims of sexual violence can share their stories. 
• SOFEPADI educates people about HIV/AIDS as well as other STIs. It helps victims of sexual violence get tested, teaches the youth about HIV/AIDS prevention, educates people about the relationship between sexual violence and HIV/AIDS and provides information about traditional customs that increase the risk of acquiring HIV/AIDS.

Social Change Educating pygmy women about the consitutional referendum and preparing them for the electoral process.

• Women's Empowerment: SOFEPADI works to increase the representation of women in politics. It has to date trained 500 women in leadership and politics. Of this number, 14 were candidates in election for the regional legislature in Beni.

Information / News from SOFEPADI

• Reports

Read a 2006 report from SOFEPADI about the participation of women in elections and SOFEPADI's work with this issue (in French)

Networking

Outreach Partners

• Center for Rights and Democracy
• Global Fund for Human Rights
• OSISA
• Institute for Life and Peace
• Global Right
• FINCHURDAID

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