Muslim Women: Past and Present

Recommend a Muslim Woman

Throughout the ages, from the earliest days of Islam to contemporary times today, Muslim women have been and continue to be active leaders in their communities and countries across the world. This directory is a growing archive of leading Muslim women scholars, activists, writers, politicians, artists, religious and spiritual leaders, civil society leaders and more. Please contribute to this archive by suggesting Muslim women to be featured through our recommendation form.

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Nafis Sadik

Women have special needs in conflict and post-conflict situations; they have a stake and a contribution to make in peacemaking and peace-building; and they are essential agents in longer-term development.

—Nafis Sadik, Statement by Dr. Nafis Sadik at a panel discussion for International Women’s Day, “Gender Equality Beyond 2005: Building a More Secure Future,” 8 March 2005  

photo of Nafis Sadik

Known For: Special Advisor to UN Secretary General
Country: Pakistan

About

Dr. Nafis Sadik, a national of Pakistan, is Special Adviser to the UN Secretary-General, with the rank of Under-Secretary-General and UN Special Envoy for HIV/AIDS in Asia and the Pacific. Dr. Sadik undertook her medical studies at Dow Medical College and Johns Hopkins University. She was Pakistan’s Director-General of the Central Family Planning Council; she was responsible for developing, preparing, and evaluating the country’s health and family planning programme as part of the nation’s development plan. Dr. Sadik joined (UNFPA) in 1971, served as its Executive Director from 1987-2000, and was the first woman in the UN system to head one of its major voluntarily funded programmes. Under her leadership as Secretary-General of the landmark International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD), Cairo, 1994, the approach to reproductive health (including empowering women through education and economic opportunity) was unanimously agreed upon by the international community. Dr. Sadik is well-known for her dynamism and guiding force in the fields of maternal and child health, reproductive and sexual health, and advocacy for education in the prevention of HIV/AIDS. She has received many international and national awards and was the Laureate, in the individual category, of the UN Population Award 2001.

Currently, Dr. Sadik serves on the Board of Trustees/Directors of several national and international organizations. She is the author of publications on reproductive health and family, population and development, women, and gender and development.

Sources

Biography of Dr. Nafis Sadik, United Nations.

Dr. Nafis Sadik, Jazbah Magazine Women of Pakistan.

Videos

Women in Conflict:
Dr. Nafis Sadik Discusses

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This search feature will enable you to find Muslim women alphabetically by their first names. Many Muslim names have alternative spellings once rendered into English so if you cannot find the name you are looking for, please try the general search tab where you can enter keywords of your choice.
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This search feature will enable you to find Muslim women chronologically by the Common Era century. We are actively building the archive of Muslim women leaders from the past, as well as from today, and we would welcome your recommendations of women to feature. Please complete our “Recommend Muslim Women” form and check the site again in the near future as we actively expand this section of the portal with your suggestions.
This search feature will enable you to find Muslim women by their Country. We are actively building the archive of Muslim women leaders from the past, as well as from today, and we would welcome your recommendations of women to feature. Please complete our “Recommend Muslim Women” form and check the site again in the near future as we actively expand this section of the portal with your suggestions.
This search feature will enable you to find Muslim women leaders by entering the keyword(s) of your choice. If you cannot find a particular woman that you are looking for, please let us know by completing our “Recommend Muslim Women” form and check the site again in the near future as we actively expand this section of the portal with your suggestions.