In News:

The Ramon Magsaysay Award Foundation (RMAF) announced the 2026 Ramon Magsaysay Award winners, honouring three Asian personalities for their contributions to diplomacy, community development and human rights: Tommy Koh of Singapore, Runa Khan of Bangladesh and Bo Kyi of Myanmar.

About the Ramon Magsaysay Award

• Established in 1958, the Ramon Magsaysay Award is one of Asia’s most prestigious honours and is often described as “Asia’s Nobel Prize.”
• It recognises individuals and organisations demonstrating selfless service, transformative leadership and commitment to human development in Asia, irrespective of race, gender or religion.
• The award is administered by the Ramon Magsaysay Award Foundation (RMAF) and carries a medallion, certificate and cash prize.
• From 1958 to 2008, the award was presented under specific categories such as Government Service, Public Service, Community Leadership, Journalism, Literature & Creative Communication Arts, Peace & International Understanding and Emergent Leadership. Since 2009, the award has no fixed categories, allowing the Foundation to recognise contemporary forms of social leadership. Emergent Leadership continues as a category with support from the Ford Foundation.

2026 Awardees

• Tommy Koh – Singapore:
  • A distinguished diplomat and lawyer, Koh was recognised for his contribution to international dialogue and the rule of law.
  • He chaired the 1982 UN Conference on the Law of the Sea, which played a major role in the adoption of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), often described as the “Constitution for the Oceans.”
• Runa Khan – Bangladesh:
  • A social entrepreneur, Khan was recognised for her work with disadvantaged and vulnerable communities.
  • She founded Friendship Bangladesh in 2002, an organisation working particularly with communities affected by geographical isolation and climate vulnerability. Its work includes climate resilience, education, women’s empowerment, livelihood generation and social justice.
• Bo Kyi – Myanmar:
  • A human rights activist, Bo Kyi was honoured for his longstanding resistance to military repression and human rights violations in Myanmar.
  • He co-founded the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP) in 2000, which documents political imprisonment and supports political prisoners and their families.