Ramon Magsaysay Award 2026 Laureates Announced
Miscellaneous · Wednesday, 2 September 2026
The 68th Ramon Magsaysay Awards have been announced, honoring Tommy Koh, Runa Khan, and Bo Kyi. Often called 'Asia’s Nobel Prize', the award celebrates leadership that transforms Asian societies.
Quick highlights
- Tommy Koh (Singapore): Recognized for diplomacy and international law (UNCLOS leadership).
- Runa Khan (Bangladesh): Recognized for delivering 'floating healthcare' through her NGO 'Friendship'.
- Bo Kyi (Myanmar): Recognized for defending human rights and supporting political prisoners through AAPP.
- Established in 1957 in memory of the 7th President of the Philippines.
- Categories were made flexible in 2009 to cover diverse intersections of governance and human rights.
Key Facts
Created by the Rockefeller Brothers Fund, the award remains one of the most prestigious in the Global South. Laureates receive an embossed medallion and a formal calligraphy certificate.
Remember this
- Award Region: Asia.
- President memorialized: Ramon Magsaysay (Philippines).
- NGO Friendship: Founded by Runa Khan.
- AAPP: Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (Myanmar).
- UNCLOS: United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.
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