Remembering Marama Martin

Marama speaking truth to power in a Māori kahu huruhuru (feather cloak).

The ICW sisterhood remembers Marama Martin, a fierce advocate for women living with HIV and champion for indigenous women. We are deeply saddened to hear that Marama is no longer with us. Marama was a truly bright spark and gave her time and energy to fighting for women and girls  living with HIV across several platforms and organizations.

She was a pioneering and powerful advocate for Māori and indigenous women living with HIV, she was the first Māori woman to publicly disclose her HIV status, and her bravery did not stop there. She co-founded INA (Māori, Indigenous and South Pacific HIV/ AIDS Foundation) and served as its Executive Director. Marama’s advocacy ran from local to the international stage and highlighted the unique challenges faced by Māori and Indigenous peoples with HIV, emphasizing culturally appropriate care and challenging stigma, making her an important voice and perspective needed in global HIV advocacy.   

At the Asia Pacific regional level,  Marama was a founding member and served as Treasurer on the governing board of ICW Asia Pacific from 2015-2017. She was a fierce leader and put so much effort into the revival of ICWAP providing critical support to help ICWAP become a stronger and more autonomous network. 

At the global level, she served on ICW’s International Steering Committee from 2015 to 2018 rising to Chairperson.  She served on the Communities Delegation of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, was the Co-Chair of the International Indigenous Working Group on HIV and AIDS, and the Chair of the International Council of AIDS Service Organisations (ICASO).

In 2015, Marama was appointed to co-chair the Civil Society Task Force (CSTF) for the United Nations General Assembly (UNGASS) and partnered with UNAIDS  to ensure strong community voices and priorities in the High-Level Meeting on HIV 2016 in New York. As a co-chair of the civil society task force she pushed the agenda of women and girls in the HLM and made organizers rethink and strengthen the women and gender specific agenda in the outcome document.  

ICW Sisters will remember her powerful words:

 “We are left out and forgotten people. We are dying still of AIDS, at high rates due to health disparities and social determinants”. 

For many the loss is not just professional but personal.  Marama was a movement backbone and focused on empowering other young women and girls, bringing them into the leadership and ensuring the voices of indigenous women living with HIV and all women living with HIV were heard in key policy spaces. Hers is a truly sad loss for the HIV response, women living with HIV and particularly indigenous women.

“Marama, you were the one who took my interview for the post of ICW AP Regional Coordinator. You saw strength in me before I saw it in myself, I miss your guidance and I am carrying your mentorship forward with me every day.” - Sita Shahi ,Regional Coordinator, “ICWAP misses your guidance but we have learned a lot from your leadership and your mentorship lives on in our memories and in our work, in this way we keep your spirit alive.”

Marama was a proud and loving mother and daughter and she truly doted on her two children who were a driving force behind her advocacy and joyful approach to life. May her soul rest in love and power, and may her family find more power during this difficult time. 

Marama loved to show respect to and honor her Māori community and indigenous cultural practices and often offered karakia or whakataukī (prayers and proverbs) to open meetings and set the tone for important discussions. 

We remember her this way - Kia Ora Marama.

Kua wheturangihia koe.  You have now become a star.