Rani Yan Yan

Rani Yan Yan^[a] (born 1984) is an Indigenous human rights defender and women's rights activist from Bangladesh, serving as the advisor to the Chakma Circle Chief.^[1] In 2014, she married Devasish Roy, the Chakma Circle Chief, and has since been known as Rani Yan Yan.^[2][3]

As the Chakma Rani (queen) and advisor to the Chakma Circle Chief, she has effectively advocated for the appointment of more women as headmen and karbaris (traditional leaders), ensuring women's rights are upheld within the traditional system.^[1]

She has advised organizations on climate resiliency and gender equality, researched political participation of Indigenous women, and mentored youth activists on diversity and social inclusion.^[4][5]

In 2018, while supporting two Indigenous teenage girls who had been sexually assaulted, Rani Yan Yan was attacked.^[6]

During the COVID-19 pandemic, she promoted simple, low-cost water supply systems to encourage handwashing in remote Indigenous communities, addressing health and food security challenges.^[7]

In recognition of her efforts, Rani Yan Yan was honored with the Global Anti-Racism Champions Award by the U.S. Department of State in 2023.^[4][8]

In her personal life, Rani Yan Yan practices Buddhism and was once ordained as a female monastic.^[9] In 2014, Rani Yan Yan returned to Bangladesh after obtaining a bachelor's degree in development studies from the University of Adelaide in Australia.^[4] Additionally, she is an alumna of the Diplomacy Training Program at the University of New South Wales and a graduate of the Asia-Pacific Forum on Feminist Legal Theory and Practice.^[9] She is of ethnic Rakhine,^[10][11] born to U Maung Rhee and Daw Pu Mya Khine.^[12]

• Chakma Circle
• Tridiv Roy
• Benita Roy