Rani Yan Yan
| Yan Yan | |
|---|---|
| Rani of Chakma Circle | |
Rani Yan Yan Delivers Remarks at the First Annual Ceremony for the Secretary of State’s Award for Global Anti-Racism Champions | |
| Consort to Chief of the Chakma Circle | |
| Tenure | 2014 – present |
| Predecessor | Arati Roy |
| Born | 1984 (age 41–42) Bandarban District, Bangladesh |
| Spouse | |
| Father | U Maung Rhee |
| Mother | Daw Pu Mya Khine |
| Occupation | Indigenous Human Rights defendee Woman rights activist |
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]
Career
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]
On 6 April 2026, the Rangamati District Magistrate, on the directive of the Ministry of Home Affairs, issued a formal caution to Yan Yan, accusing her of spreading "false and misleading information" against the Bangladeshi government and military. Yan Yan's lawyers denied the accusations and requested the caution be withdrawn. The human rights organisation Front Line Defenders described the caution as being "directly connected" to Yan Yan's human rights activism.[9][10]
Personal life
In her personal life, Rani Yan Yan practices Buddhism and was once ordained as a female monastic.[11] 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.[11] She is of ethnic Rakhine,[12][13] born to U Maung Rhee and Daw Pu Mya Khine.[14]
See also
Notes
References
- ^ a b "Rani Yan Yan". Front Line Defenders. 2018-02-20. Retrieved 2025-03-06.
- ^ "Bangladeshi woman Rani Yan Yan recognised as Global Anti-Racism Champion by US State Dept". The Business Standard. 2023-08-09. Retrieved 2025-03-06.
- ^ ইউএনবি, ঢাকা (2021-10-20). "মার্কিন নারী শান্তি নির্মাতা পুরস্কারে মনোনীত রানী ইয়ান ইয়ান". The Daily Star Bangla. Retrieved 2025-03-06.
- ^ a b c "US honors tribeswoman from Chittagong Hill Tracts, 5 others as anti-racism champions". Benar News. Archived from the original on 2024-10-02. Retrieved 2025-03-06.
- ^ "French Ambassador Masdupuy welcomes Rani Yan to Embassy". The Financial Express. Retrieved 2025-05-01.
- ^ "Rani Yan Yan, 'I was attacked'". New Age | The Outspoken Daily. Archived from the original on 2018-07-16. Retrieved 2025-03-06.
- ^ "Human rights activist innovates to address health and food security for Bangladesh's indigenous peoples - Bangladesh - Australia Awards - South Asia & Mongolia". australiaawardsbangladesh.org. Retrieved 2025-03-06.
- ^ "মার্কিন নারী শান্তি নির্মাতা পুরস্কারে মনোনীত রানী ইয়ান ইয়ান". Bangla Daily Star.
- ^ "Bangladesh: Intimidation and false accusations against woman human rights defender Rani Yan Yan". Front Line Defenders. 29 April 2026. Archived from the original on 2 May 2026. Retrieved 2 May 2026.
- ^ "Warning letter issued to Yan Yan over allegations of misinformation". Prothom Alo. 27 April 2026. Archived from the original on 28 April 2026. Retrieved 2 May 2026.
- ^ a b "US Department of State Honors Bangladeshi Social Activist Rani Yan Yan with 2023 Global Anti-Racism Champions Award". Buddhistdoor Global. Retrieved 2025-03-06.
- ^ প্রতিবেদক, নিজস্ব. "বিয়ের পিঁড়িতে রাজা". Prothomalo (in Bengali). Archived from the original on 2026-05-18. Retrieved 2026-05-18.
- ^ "Rani Yan Yan – Frugal Innovation Forum 2022". 2022-10-06. Retrieved 2025-03-06.
- ^ "Yan Yan (Rani Yan Yan)". The Mog Nation Wiki. 2022-03-13. Retrieved 2025-03-06.