Valery Wichman is an LGBT rights activist from the Cook Islands. She is the former president of the Te Tiare Association, the first association for LGBTQI++ in the Cook Islands, and has been involved with the group since its inception in 2008. [1] [2]
Wichman grew up in Rarotonga. [3] She began attending the University of Auckland in 2007. [3]
In 2016 Wichman was admitted to the High Court in New Zealand as a barrister and solicitor. [3]
Wichman works as a solicitor and barrister for the Cook Islands' government, and has worked in the role of Director of Central Policy and Planning. [3]
Through the Te Tiare Association, Wichman has worked since 2019 to petition the government to repeal the country's laws which criminalises homosexuality. [4]
In 2016, Wichman was given a Queen's Young Leaders Award for her work in advancing LGBT rights. [5]
Wichman was chosen for the University of Auckland's 2021 40 Under 40 list. [6] In February 2024 she was awarded the Franco-German Prize for Human Rights and the Rule of Law, becoming the first Pacific person to receive the award. [5]
Wichman is a trans woman. [1]