Tommy Koh, Runa Khan and Bo Kyi receive the 2026 Ramon Magsaysay Award, reflecting Asia’s enduring commitment to diplomacy, humanitarian action and human rights.
The 2026 Ramon Magsaysay Award has recognised three individuals whose work reflects different but complementary dimensions of leadership in Asia: Singaporean diplomat and legal scholar Tommy Koh, Bangladeshi humanitarian innovator Runa Khan, and Myanmar human rights advocate Bo Kyi. The three were announced as this year’s awardees on August 31.
Often regarded as Asia’s premier leadership honour, the Ramon Magsaysay Award recognises individuals and organisations demonstrating what its foundation describes as “greatness of spirit” through selfless service to the peoples of Asia. Since its establishment, the award has highlighted individuals whose work addresses some of the region’s most persistent social and human-development challenges.
Tommy Koh: Diplomacy as a Bridge Across Borders
Tommy Koh’s recognition highlights the continuing importance of diplomacy, international law and dialogue in an increasingly interconnected region. The veteran Singaporean diplomat and lawyer has spent decades working on international cooperation and peaceful approaches to disputes.
Among his most significant contributions was his role in the negotiations surrounding the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), a landmark framework governing maritime rights and responsibilities. The Ramon Magsaysay Award Foundation recognised Koh for advancing international cooperation, dialogue and peaceful dispute resolution.
For Southeast Asia, where maritime boundaries, trade routes and regional security remain strategically important, Koh’s career offers a reminder of the value of institutions and rules-based engagement. His experience demonstrates how sustained dialogue can help countries with different national interests find common ground.
Runa Khan: Bringing Services to Communities Beyond Reach
Bangladesh’s Runa Khan represents another dimension of regional leadership: innovative humanitarian service. She founded Friendship after witnessing the difficulties experienced by communities living in remote and climate-vulnerable areas of Bangladesh.
What began with a hospital ship evolved into a broader organisation providing healthcare, education, livelihood support and other services to communities that conventional development programmes often struggle to reach. The organisation has also developed mobile schools and other approaches designed around the realities of communities affected by climate and geographical isolation.
Khan’s work is particularly relevant to ASEAN and the wider Asia-Pacific region, where climate change, flooding, coastal erosion and displacement increasingly affect vulnerable populations. Her model demonstrates how community-based solutions can complement national development programmes.
Bo Kyi: Human Rights and the Pursuit of Accountability
Myanmar’s Bo Kyi brings the perspective of human rights and democratic resilience. He was arrested following the country’s pro-democracy demonstrations in 1988 and spent a total of seven years in detention. In 2000, he co-founded the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP), which works to support political prisoners and document human rights abuses.
His work has gained renewed significance following Myanmar’s 2021 military coup. AAPP has continued documenting arbitrary arrests, political imprisonment and other abuses while supporting affected individuals and their families.
From a regional perspective, Bo Kyi’s recognition underscores the continuing importance of human dignity, accountability and civil society in Asia. His work also demonstrates how organisations operating in difficult environments can preserve documentation and maintain international attention on human rights concerns.
A Shared Regional Message
Although their professional backgrounds differ substantially, Tommy Koh, Runa Khan and Bo Kyi share an important characteristic: each has developed practical responses to challenges affecting people and communities beyond their immediate circumstances.
Koh demonstrates the role of diplomacy and international law in managing differences between states. Khan illustrates how humanitarian organisations can adapt services to communities affected by geography and climate. Bo Kyi represents the role of civil society in defending human rights and documenting abuses.
Together, their stories provide a broader picture of Asian leadership—one that extends beyond economic achievement to include social resilience, international cooperation and human dignity.
Relevance for ASEAN
For ASEAN, the three awardees offer particularly relevant lessons. The region continues to face complex challenges involving climate resilience, maritime governance, social inequality, migration and human rights. Addressing these issues requires cooperation between governments, civil society, professionals and communities.
The recognition of Tommy Koh is especially relevant to ASEAN’s long-standing emphasis on dialogue and consensus. His career demonstrates how diplomacy can contribute to building frameworks for cooperation even when national interests differ.
Meanwhile, Runa Khan’s humanitarian approach provides a useful reference for communities facing climate-related disruption, while Bo Kyi’s work highlights the importance of civil society and accountability in strengthening the human dimension of regional development.
The three laureates will be formally honoured at the 68th Ramon Magsaysay Award Presentation Ceremonies on November 15, 2026, at the Metropolitan Theatre in Manila.
The 2026 Ramon Magsaysay Award therefore carries significance beyond the recognition of three individuals. It presents a regional message that Asia’s future depends not only on economic growth, but also on leaders capable of building cooperation, expanding opportunity and defending human dignity.
