Rima Athar is a collaborative leader, facilitator, and educator committed to advancing the rights of women, girls, and 2SLGBTIQ+ people globally. For over 15 years, she has worked with community-led teams from all regions of the world, to propel advocacy efforts on issues of sexual and bodily autonomy, gender-based violence, labour rights, business and human rights, and more. This includes with the transnational solidarity network Women Living Under Muslim Laws (WLUML), the Association for Progressive Communications Women’s Rights Program (APC-WRP), and as the executive director of the Coalition for Sexual and Bodily Rights in Muslim Societies (CSBR).
More recently, Rima coordinated city-wide consultations that gathered over one thousand residents’ input to inform the City of Toronto’s forthcoming Gender Equity Strategy. She also facilitated the Toronto Strong Neighbourhoods Strategy Advisory Group’s community-based research on best practices for resident engagement in neighbourhood development.
Currently, Rima provides a range of support services to civic, social, and philanthropic organizations through her consulting practice. In her spare time, she enjoys going on adventures, hanging with her loved ones, swimming in the sea, and soaking up nature’s beauty.
