Wai Wai Nu

Wai Wai Nu is a Rohingya human rights activist from Rakhine State, Myanmar. The Rohingya, a stateless Muslim group, face severe restrictions and persecution akin to apartheid. Nu’s activism was sparked by her family’s imprisonment for political opposition; she spent seven years in Insein Prison from age 18. Released in 2012, she has since worked for women’s equality and the rights of the Rohingya, founding the Women’s Peace Network Arakan and co-founding Justice for Women. Despite ongoing ethnic violence and human rights abuses, including a violent military crackdown in 2016 that displaced over 150,000 people, Nu continues her efforts. 

Recognized globally, she has received accolades from Foreign Policy Magazine, Time Magazine, and the Hillary Clinton Award from Georgetown University.