Get to know the Alumni Profile: Neng Dara Affiah, Intellectual and Advocate for Women's Rights

Jakarta, UIN Online News — UIN Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta continues to produce influential intellectuals, academics, and activists who make significant contributions across various fields. Among them is Neng Dara Affiah—a sociologist, lecturer, and prominent human rights activist, particularly known for her advocacy for women's rights.

Affectionately known as Neng Dara, she is an alumna of the Comparative Religion Program at the Faculty of Ushuluddin, UIN Jakarta. She later pursued her master’s and doctoral degrees at the Faculty of Social and Political Sciences (FISIP), University of Indonesia.

As both an academic and an activist, Neng Dara has been actively engaged in religious discourse and public forums. She is widely recognized as an Islamic feminist who champions humanistic approaches in advancing women's rights.

Born on December 10, 1969, in Pandeglang, Banten, Neng Dara grew up in a santri (Islamic boarding school) environment within a priyayi (noble) family. Her interest in Islamic thought and feminism emerged during her university years, where she actively participated in student discussion groups and was involved in various NGOs advocating for women's rights.

Currently serving as a lecturer at the Faculty of Social and Political Sciences (FISIP) at UIN Jakarta and the Faculty of Social Sciences at Nahdlatul Ulama University of Indonesia (UNUSIA), she has produced numerous academic works contributing to the discourse on gender and Islam.

Her notable publications include Kemanusiaan dan Pembaruan Masyarakat Muslim Indonesia (2023), Potret Perempuan Muslim Progresif Indonesia (2017), Islam, Kepemimpinan Perempuan, dan Seksualitas (2017), Muslimah Feminis: Penjelajahan Multi Identitas (2009), among others. Through her writings, she explores the roles of women in Islam and promotes progressive thought on gender equality.

In addition to her writing, Neng Dara has been involved in various international research projects addressing gender issues, women’s rights, and the socio-political impacts on Muslim women. One notable project was her role as lead researcher in “Women's Agency and the Gendered Impact of Violent Extremism” in 2020.

As the Chair of the Alumni Association of the Faculty of Ushuluddin (IKAL FU) at UIN Jakarta, she also played a key role in founding the Indonesian Congress of Women Ulama (KUPI) in Cirebon in 2017. She led religious discussions that formulated KUPI’s stances on key issues, including sexual violence.

From 2007 to 2019, she served as a Commissioner of the National Commission on Violence Against Women (Komnas Perempuan), where she was deeply involved in advocacy and addressing cases of violence against women across Indonesia.

In recognition of her dedication to women's rights and gender equality, Neng Dara Affiah was honored with the 2024 IKALUIN Award in the category of Women and Gender Equality. This award affirms her significant contributions as a UIN Jakarta alumna in promoting progressive Islamic thought and serving the broader society.

(Shanti Oktavia / Zaenal M. / Noeni Indah S. / Photo: PIH)