Professor Dr. Rafidah Hanim Mokhtar is a lecturer of Physiology at the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia (USIM). She graduated as a Medical Doctor from the National University of Malaysia in 1997, and obtained her PhD in Health Sciences (Physiology) from the International Islamic University Malaysia (UIAM) in 2007. She received the best postgraduate student award from the Medical Faculty of UIAM in the same year. Dr. Rafidah has great interest in gender physiology and is focused on studies of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender issues on joining USIM , in line with the philosophy of the university that is Integration of Revealed Knowledge (Naqli) And Rational Science (Aqli) in academics and research.
She has been working closely with the Family Health Development Division (FHDD), Ministry of Health Malaysia where she was appointed as an expert panelist in drafting the guidelines for gender health issues for Health Clinics by FHDD, Ministry of Health.
She was also appointed as an expert panelist in developing modules for sexual orientation and gender identity issues by the Malaysian Islamic Development Department (JAKIM). Administratively, she has served as the Deputy Dean of Academics and Research, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, USIM and as the Director of the Community Engagement Centre and Industrial Network of USIM. She founded the Academy of Research of LGBT in USIM and currently is a member of YADIM Women’s Council (MAYA).
Prof Dr. Rafidah Hanim is also active in humanitarian and advocacy works. She is the President of the International Women’s Alliance for Family Institution and Quality Education (WAFIQ), the Co-Chairman of the Malaysian Alliance Of Civil Society Organisations In The Universal Periodic Review Process (MACSA) and the Vice President of Ikatan Pengamal Perubatan dan Kesihatan Muslim Malaysia (I-Medik). She works with non-government organizations that advocate the health and religious rights for lesbian, gay and transgenders such as Yayasan Ihtimam, Persatuan Insaf Pahang, Hijrah Republik, Muhajirah WAFIQ and PINTAS. She had also been involved in flood relief missions under I-Medik. As the President of WAFIQ, Dr. Rafidah Hanim is currently focusing on the education and health of the stateless children in Sabah. Internationally, she works with Persatuan Keluarga Berencana Indonesia (Indonesia Planned Parenthood Association), an advocacy group for health of transgenders community in Indonesia. Dr. Rafidah Hanim actively writes in newspapers and news portals on these subject matters and has also been invited as a panelist on Malaysia Hari Ini TV3, TV Al-Hijrah and Bella NTV 7 as well as a guest on radio shows BFM, Bernama and IKIM.fm. She was the recipient for Anugerah Wanita Cemerlang Negeri Kedah in 2017.
Biodata Presiden
Profesor Dr. Rafidah Hanim Mokhtar adalah seorang pensyarah dalam Fisiologi di Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia (USIM). Beliau lulus sebagai Doktor Perubatan dari Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia pada tahun 1997, dan memperolehi PhD dalam bidang Fisiologi dari Universiti Islam Antarabangsa Malaysia (UIAM) pada tahun 2007. Beliau dianugerahkan Pelajar PhD terbaik Kulliyyah of Medicine, IIUM pada tahun yang sama.
Dr. Rafidah Hanim merupakan mantan Pengarah Pusat Libatsama Masyarakat dan Hubungan Industri (PLiMJI), USIM. Beliau sebelum ini pernah menjawat jawatan Timbalan Dekan Akademik dan Penyelidikan, Fakulti Perubatan dan Sains Kesihatan, USIM.
Dalam bidang kajian, Dr. Rafidah Hanim mengasaskan Akademi Kajian LGBT di Instutut Pengurusan dan Penyelidikan Fatwa Sedunia atau World Fatwa Management and Research Institute (INFAD), USIM dan merupakan Ketua Akademi pertama. Beliau telah membentangkan kajian penyelidikan ini di dalam dan luar negeri.
Dr Rafidah Hanim telah dijemput memperkatakan isu wanita dalam Islam dan Sains dalam berbagai seminar. Pada tahun 2013 beliau telah diundang sebagai salah seorang pembentang dalam slot ‘Women in Science, Juggling Balls-Family and Physiology’ anjuran International Union Physiology Society di Birmingham, UK bagi berkongsi pandangan mengenai kejayaan golongan wanita di Malaysia dalam kerjaya dan keluarga. Beliau merupakan satu-satunya panelis dari Malaysia bersama 5 panelis lain dari Brazil, USA, Mexico, Australia dan Nigeria. Ini merupakan pengiktirafan kepada wanita Muslim dari Malaysia dan USIM khususnya. Pada bulan Disember 2016 pula Dr Rafidah Hanim dijemput memberi pandangan mewakil NGO Wanita Islam dalam ”Panel discussion on women’s and children’s rights in Malaysia” anjuran pihak kedutaan negara-negara Eropah (European Union Delegation) membincangkan hak-hak wanita dalam Islam vs feminisme.
Pada 8hb November 2018, Dr. Rafidah Hanim telah terlibat secara langsung dalam sesi Semakan Berkala Sejagat (Universal Periodic Review – UPR) ke 3 Malaysia yang diadakan di Geneva, Switzerland. Beliau, selaku Pengerusi Bersama, telah menyelia persediaan laporan hak asasi bagi 52 badan-badan bukan kerajaan Islam (NGOI) yang bernaung di bawah Malaysian Alliance of Civil Society Organisations in the UPR Process atau Gabungan Pertubuhan Masyarakat Sivil Malaysia bagi Proses Semakan Berkala Sejagat (MACSA).
Dr Rafidah pernah diundang menyampaikan ucaptama dalam Persidangan “The Sixth International Conference on Gender and Women’s Studies 2019 di Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Beliau merupakan panel rujukan bagi Bahagian Pembangunan Kesihatan Keluarga (BPKK), Kementerian Kesihatan Malaysia dalam merangka “Garispanduan pengendalian masalah kesihatan gender di Klinik Kesihatan” dan organisasi bukan kerajaan yang melibatkan transgender seperti Persatuan Insaf Pahang.
Dr. Rafidah Hanim kini merupakan Ahli Jawatankuasa Isu Hal Ehwal Islam Antarabangsa, Jabatan Kemajuan Islam Malaysia (JAKIM) 2021-2023. Beliau juga merupakan Ahli Majlis Wanita Islam YADIM (MAYA) 2021-2022.
Dr. Rafidah aktif menulis di akhbar dan portal berita dalam isu kesihatan transgender, kesihatan wanita, ketagihan dadah dan pornografi dan telah dijemput sebagai ahli panel di rancangan RTM, Analisis TV Al-Hijrah, Astro Awani, Bella NTV 7, MHI TV3 serta menjadi tetamu radio Bernama dan IKIM.fm serta pelbagai portal maya.
Selain daripada itu, Dr. Rafidah Hanim juga aktif di dalam NGO wanita, kekeluargaan dan kesihatan dimana beliau merupakan Presiden International Women’s Alliance for Family Institution and Quality Education (WAFIQ) dan Naib Presiden I-Medik. Beliau juga merupakan Pengerusi Bersama MACSA.
Prof. Dr. Rafidah Hanim telah berkahwin dengan Prof. Dr. Azizi Ayob dan dianugerahkan 6 orang cahaya mata.