Born: 1957, Kiribati
Died: 18 August 2018
Country most active: Kiribati
Also known as: NA
Pole Atanraoi-Reim stands as a trailblazer in Kiribati as the nation’s first female lawyer. Her father, Atanraoi, a distinguished retired diplomat and historian, served as Kiribati’s inaugural Secretary of Foreign Affairs. Atanraoi-Reim pursued her higher education in Kiribati, New Zealand, and Papua New Guinea, culminating in her groundbreaking entry into the legal profession.
In 1992, she achieved the historic milestone of becoming the first woman admitted to the Kiribati bar, concurrently practicing law in the Federated States of Micronesia. Her remarkable legal career encompassed roles such as Assistant Attorney General and Chief of Litigation in Micronesia, legal trainer for Fiji’s Human Rights at the Regional Rights Resources Team/UNDP, and leadership positions like Director of Public Prosecutions and Senior State Advocate in Kiribati.
Atanraoi-Reim’s contributions extended beyond her legal roles. While serving as Director of Public Prosecutions, she notably contributed to the publication Customary land tenure and sustainable development: complementarity or conflict? (1995). Following a robust career, she transitioned to roles as a Legal Rights Resource Trainer for the Pacific Regional Rights Resource Team (RRRT) and an acting Attorney-General.
Her final chapter saw her as a legal advisor for the Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA) in 2015. Unfortunately, Pole Atanraoi-Reim’s inspiring journey was cut short on August 18, 2018, as she succumbed to cancer. Her legacy remains imprinted on Kiribati’s legal landscape, marking her as a pioneer and advocate for legal rights in the Pacific region.