Magsaysay Awards 2025: Singapore diplomat, Myanmar activist, Bangladeshi aid pioneer win
Singapore's Tommy Koh, Myanmar's Bo Kyi, and Bangladesh's Runa Khan win the 2025 Ramon Magsaysay Awards for their exceptional service.
The Ramon Magsaysay Awards, often described as Asia's Nobel Prize, have announced their 2025 laureates. This year's honorees are a Singaporean diplomat, a Myanmar human rights activist, and a Bangladeshi social worker, each recognized for their extraordinary contributions to the region.
The award, established in 1958 and named after the late Philippine President Ramon Magsaysay, celebrates individuals who embody "greatness of spirit" through selfless service. The winners will be formally honored at a ceremony in Manila on November 15.
Among the awardees is Tommy Koh, an 88-year-old Singaporean lawyer and diplomat. Koh is best known for presiding over the United Nations conference that adopted the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea in 1982. The awards body described this treaty as a "constitution for the oceans," noting its role in defining territorial waters and providing mechanisms for dispute resolution. The convention notably served as the basis for a 2016 arbitration ruling that invalidated China's expansive claims in the South China Sea.
Bo Kyi, a 61-year-old activist from Myanmar, was recognized for his lifelong struggle for democracy and against human rights abuses by the military. Having spent seven years in prison, Kyi co-founded the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners in 2000. The organization documents political imprisonment and supports detainees and their families, while also advocating for the release of all political prisoners, including former leader Aung San Suu Kyi.
Runa Khan, a 67-year-old from Bangladesh, was honored for her work with the country's most impoverished communities. Coming from an affluent background, Khan began teaching poor children in 1979 and later founded "Friendship Bangladesh" in 2002. The organization addresses climate change, education, women's empowerment, and social justice. It now employs over 7,500 people and operates seven hospital ships, two land-based hospitals, and 550 mobile clinics.