Maryanne Rimbao

Maryanne Rimbao is a human rights and environmental advocate from Papua New Guinea. She is the founder and director of the Humanity and Nature Indigenous Women’s Association, a civic and advocacy organisation consisting of more than 10.000 indigenous women and girls. The association supports indigenous women and victims of forced displacement, gender-based violence and ethnic conflicts. Maryanne has also been an activist in climate justice against mining in her country and has advocated for the rights of women and communities affected by mining-related displacement and environmental degradation. In November 2024, she represented Papua New Guinea at COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan, bringing international attention to corporate accountability and indigenous-led environmental protection. Due to ethnic and tribal conflicts, she was forced to leave her home village in the remote highlands and relocate to the capital Port Moresby, where she continues to work on human rights, forced displacement, indigenous rights, HIV/AIDS, land rights, environment and climate change, gender justice, legal rights, cyber digital security and peace. As a paralegal, she has provided legal support to unlawfully detained women, victims of police brutality, and single mothers seeking financial assistance.