Dr Raj Abdul Karim is currently the Regional Director of the International Planned Parenthood Federation, East and South East Asia and Oceania Region, a position she held since October, 1999. From 1992 till then, she was the Director General of the National Population and Family Development Board, Malaysia and prior to this she was the Director of the Public Health Institute, Ministry of Health. The major part of her career was spent in the Ministry of Health Maternal and Child Health Division with the responsibility of developing programs for women and children. During this period of the 70’s and 80’s, she pioneered the development of maternal and child health survival and development strategies including family planning, safe motherhood and health system strengthening. She was appointed by His Majesty the King as a Commissioner for the Commission of Human Rights Malaysia in April 2002.

Aside from her official responsibilities, she is involved in several national NGOs related to health and welfare of women and children such as the Malaysian Council for Child Welfare (MKKM), Malaysian Association of Maternal and Neonatal Health (MAMANEH) and Pan Pacific and South East Asia Women’s Association (PPSEAWA).

She has served as a consultant and temporary adviser in several WHO, UNFPA, UNICEF and UNESCAP task forces and meetings, was a member of the WHO Expert Committee on Maternal and Child Health in the 1980’s and 1990’s; Chair of the UN Commission on Population and Development from March 1998 to 1999 and Vice Chair from March 1997 to 1998.

Dr Raj Karim was awarded the United Nations Malaysia Award 2005 for her outstanding contribution to promoting gender equality and women’s empowerment in Malaysia.

She now collaborates with NGOs, Governments and international agencies in advocating for reproductive and sexual health and rights strategies in the 25 countries of the region with the objective of improving quality of lives of women, children, young people and families.