Magsaysay honour for Singapore lawyer, Bangladeshi aid giver, Myanmar activist
The Ramon Magsaysay Awards have honored three individuals for their significant contributions to international law, human rights, and social welfare. The recipients include Singaporean diplomat Tommy Koh, Myanmar activist Bo Kyi, and Bangladeshi social entrepreneur Runa Khan.
Why it matters
These awards highlight global leadership in humanitarian efforts and legal frameworks, bringing international attention to critical issues like climate change, political imprisonment, and maritime governance.
A Singaporean diplomat who led the adoption of the UN Ocean Treaty, a Myanmar activist who put his freedom on the line for democracy, and a former Bangladeshi teacher who brought compassion to the poor were named on Monday as the winners of this year’s Ramon Magsaysay Awards.
Singaporean lawyer and diplomat Tommy Koh, 88, was recognised for promoting international dialogue and the rule of law. He is best known for presiding over a U.N. conference of more than 150 countries, which adopted the U.N. Convention on the Law of the Sea in 1982.
“Of enormous significance to maritime countries, this ‘constitution for the oceans’ defined territorial waters and the economic rights of countries to their coastal waters and provides mechanisms for settling disputes,” the awards body said.
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