Rabab S. Sadr was born in Qom, Iran on April 4, 1944. Daughter of Imam Sadr-eddein Sadr and sister to Imam Moussa Sadr, Madame Rabab grew up in a family passionately dedicated to the ideals of justice and social change. She is married to Lebanese author Hussein Charafeddine and has four sons. Madame Rabab holds B.A. and M.A. degrees in Philosophy from the Lebanese University. Currently, she is working toward the completion of a PhD at the same university. Her research focuses on the practical implications of Imam Sadr’s philosophic teachings. Madame Rabab speaks three languages fluently: Persian, Arabic and English.

At a young age, Madame Rabab joined her brother, Imam Sadr, in working on social issues in her community. In addition to her family’s sustained commitment to peace and justice, these earlier experiences led her to dedicate her life to help empower and develop marginalized populations. Alongside Imam Sadr, she attended numerous training seminars in education, social work and administration. In 1971-1972, Madame Rabab received training from the Morioty Institute in Italy. There she participated in courses on institutional administration, sewing & handicrafts workshop management and how to teach sewing to illiterate women.

Madame Rabab currently serves as Chairperson and Director of the Imam Sadr Foundation.  Throughout her tenure, she has provided skillful leadership amidst the countless trials Lebanon has witnessed. After the sudden disappearance of Imam Sadr in 1978, she worked constantly to keep the Foundation active despite the many political, financial and security challenges. Under her direction, the Foundation has been able to set milestones in social change and equity at the grass-root level by working closely with local communities in Lebanon on health, education, empowerment, and promoting a culture of dialogue and reconciliation.

As the founder and chairperson of the Imam Moussa Sadr Center for Research and Studies, she has also worked and lectured within Lebanon on themes such as freedom, reform, human rights, human development, religious dialogue, family, and the role and rights of women. On behalf of the Foundation, Madame Rabab has traveled throughout the Middle East, the Gulf, Africa, Europe, Asia and North America.  On one such trip to the Ivory Coast, Madame Rabab delivered a lecture on “The Role of Women in Rebuilding the Country.” She also makes it a priority to visit immigrant Lebanese populations when traveling internationally.

During the course of her career, Madame Rabab has been the recipient of several prominent national and international awards, including:

• The Cedar Medal, Knight’s Rank, bestowed by the Lebanese President, in recognition for her various achievements in humanitarian work.
• Certificate of Recognition from the Secretary General of the United Nations, in recognition for her valuable contributions to human development and peacebuilding efforts.
• Honorary Doctorate in Human Literature, awarded by the Lebanese American University-Lebanon.
• The Golden Award, by the Charity and Humanitarian Work Committee in France.
• Medal of Recognition, awarded by the Sovereign Order of Malta.