In Brief:
- Tommy Koh (Singapore): Recognized for advancing international law, peace, and leading negotiations for UNCLOS.
- Runa Khan (Bangladesh): Honored for transforming healthcare and education for climate-vulnerable communities via Friendship Bangladesh.
- Bo Kyi (Myanmar): Awarded for defending human rights and documenting political detentions through the AAPP.
The Ramon Magsaysay Award Foundation officially named three Asian leaders as the 2026 recipients of Asia’s highest honor on August 31, 2026. Among the awardees is 88-year-old Singaporean diplomat Tommy Koh, credited with presiding over the negotiations that established the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). Joining him is Runa Khan, 67, founder of Friendship Bangladesh, who built a floating healthcare and education network that serves remote river island communities facing climate displacement. The third laureate, 61-year-old Myanmar activist Bo Kyi, was recognized for co-founding the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP) to document human rights violations and support political detainees under military rule. The formal citation ceremony and medallion presentation will take place on November 15, 2026, at the Metropolitan Theater in Manila.
