Dr Raj Abdul Karim is currently the Regional Director of the East and South East Asia and Oceania Region (ESEAOR), a position she has held since October 1999.
From 1992 until 1999, 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.
Most 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 she pioneered the development of maternal and child health and development strategies including:
- family planning
- safe motherhood
- strengthening the health system
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 non-governmental organizations (NGOs) related to the health and welfare of women and children such as:
- the Malaysian Council for Child Welfare (MKKM)
- Malaysian Association of Maternal and Neonatal Health (MAMANEH)
- Pan Pacific and South East Asia Women’s Association (PPSEAWA)
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 countries of the region with the objective of improving the quality of life of women, children, young people and families.