Nobel Women's Initiative - Home
Join Us Donate
  • Home
  • Who We Are

    Since 2006 we have worked in solidarity with women's movements, organizations, and activists around the world to build peace, defend justice, and champion equality for all.
    • The Laureates

      • Rigoberta Menchú Tum
      • Jody Williams
      • Shirin Ebadi
      • Leymah Gbowee
      • Tawakkol Karman
      • Maria Ressa
      • Narges Mohammadi
      • Oleksandra Matviichuk
    • The Board

      • Profiles
    • Supporters

      • Individual and institutional donors
    • Staff

      • Profiles
  • What We Do

    Nobel Women's Initiative delivers programs, events, training, mentorship, advocacy and campaigns.
    • Areas of Work

      • Influencing Change
      • Shifting the Narrative
      • Leading Peace Together
    • News & Information

      • Press releases and Statements
      • Annual & Thematic Reports
      • Blog
  • Our Approach

    This is why and how we work to increase the visibility of women striving for peace, justice and equality.
    • About Us

      • Vision, Mission, Feminist Principles
      • Highlights of our Work
      • History & Background
    • What's Our Approach?

      • Transition and Renewal
      • Strategic Directions 2023-2027
  • Get Involved

    Subscribe to our newsletter to receive updates on opportunities to join us in our work.
      • Donate
    • Work With Us

      • Jobs
Join Us Donate
  1. Shifting the Narrative
  2. 16 Days of Activism
  3. Meet Carine Novi Safari, Democratic Republic of Congo

Meet Carine Novi Safari, Democratic Republic of Congo

Since the first time she heard the testimony of a woman who was raped, Carine has used her voice to speak for the women of Congo.

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Email
Meet Carine Novi Safari, Democratic Republic of Congo

Carine works with Female Solidarity for Integrated Peace and Development (SOFEPADI), a coalition of 40 women’s organizations in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.

Carine is trained as a lawyer, but began focusing more directly on the needs of women and communities when she realized just how dire the situation is for women and communities in the DRC after decades of war.  At SOFEPADI, she runs the communications and fundraising efforts.

SOFEPADI works to defend and protect women’s rights, while providing direct support to survivors of sexual violence. The organization also advocates for justice—including due process for perpetrators of sexual crimes.

A 2011 study found that approximately 48 women every hour were being raped across the DRC. Sexual violence is particularly widespread in eastern Congo, with government troops still battling numerous rebel groups. This is where Carine and her colleagues focus their efforts.

SOFEPADI works in the remote region of Orientale Province, managing the Karibuni Wamama Clinic in Bunia. The clinic provides essential medical and psychosocial support to survivors of sexual violence in the region. The organization also works in North Kivu, with an office in Beni.

Since October, Beni has faced a fresh spate of violent attacks from rebel groups—with rebels targeting women and children. Just last week, the US condemned the violence, including widespread rape.  Over a 45-day period, the attacks on Bunia have left over 200 dead. The UN estimates that recent violence has displaced 35 thousand people in the area.

Many women walk to the SOFEPADI offices in Bunia and Beni from miles away. Once there, Carine’s colleagues document the women’s injuries, and then provide women with medical and psychosocial support. Trained lawyers also help put together cases to seek justice and reparations.

SOFEPADI’s work is quickly gaining recognition at the global level for its success in delivering holistic care to women in a country that provides no government health services to sexual violence survivors, and almost no basic reproductive health care. Carine is playing an important role in bringing sorely needed resources and support to Congolese women doing remarkable work—under difficult circumstances.

LEARN MORE

Find out more about the ways SOFEPADI is supporting survivors of sexual violence in the DRC.

Catch up on the Nobel Women's Initiative's 2014 delegation to the Democratic Republic of Congo

Read up on the key findings and recommendations from the Women of the Congo Speak Out delegation

Unarmed and Dangerous, Lauren Wolfe, Foreign Policy, 7 March 2014.

!

 

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Email

16 Days of Activism

November 25, 2022

Afrah Nassar: "Believe that you are worth listening to."

November 25, 2022

Jamila Afghani: “We should extend hands of support to each other."

November 25, 2022

Mèaza Gidey Gebremedhin: “I always need to fight for myself, for my place in this world, and to help others.”

November 25, 2022

A Q&A with democracy activist Khin Ohmar: "I feel at peace knowing there is a young generation fighting for their rights."

November 25, 2022

Amira Osman Hamed: "Don't let them terrify you."

November 25, 2022

Lubna Alkanawati: "What's really helped me to survive is the women's network around me."

November 25, 2022

Nina Potarska, Anna Chernova and Oksana Senyk: "Family peace is a small piece of peacebuilding."

November 25, 2022

Nadia Murad: "We don't get anywhere by pacifying with politeness."

December 10, 2021

Manal Shqair: I’m always fighting every day for my existence as a woman (Palestine)

December 9, 2021

Ounaysa Arabi: Knowledge is power and we have a good inheritance from feminists around the world (Sudan)

December 9, 2021

Ilaf Nasreldin: We as women deserve to live a better life (Sudan)

December 8, 2021

Musu Diamond Kamara: When one woman is affronted, all of us are affronted (Liberia)

More — 16 Days of Activism

Nobel Women's Initiative

Contact Information

General Inquiries
Email:
261 Montreal Rd, Suite 310
Ottawa, ON K1L 8C7
Media Inquiries
Daina Ruduša
Email:

Join Us

  • Join us
  • Donate
  • Event Registration Fee

Social media

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • YouTube

Subscribe


© 2025 Nobel Women's Initiative

Sign in to control panel Created with NationBuilder Built by Progressive Nation
Loading…