Singapore Diplomat, Myanmar Activist & Bangladeshi Aid Giver Win Magsaysay Awards, Pg2

Key Highlights:

• Singaporean diplomat Tommy Koh, Myanmar activist Bo Kyi, and Bangladeshi aid giver Runa Khan were named winners of the Ramon Magsaysay Awards.
• Tommy Koh was recognized for his role in adopting the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) in 1982.
• Bo Kyi was honored for his human rights advocacy and co-founding the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP) in Myanmar.
• Runa Khan received the award for her humanitarian work through Friendship Bangladesh, aiding the poorest in her country.
• The Ramon Magsaysay Award, often called Asia's Nobel Prize, honors "greatness of spirit" through selfless service.

Detailed Insights:

• Tommy Koh, 88, presided over a U.N. conference of over 150 countries that adopted UNCLOS, defining territorial waters and economic rights.
• UNCLOS served as the main basis for the 2016 arbitration panel ruling that invalidated China's expansive claims in the South China Sea.
• Bo Kyi, 61, spent seven years in prison for his defense of democracy and resistance against human rights violations by Myanmar's military.
• The Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP), co-founded by Bo Kyi in March 2000, documents political imprisonment and supports detainees.
• Runa Khan, 67, established Friendship Bangladesh in 2002 to help the destitute deal with climate change, educate children, and empower women.
• Friendship Bangladesh employs over 7,500 people and operates seven hospital ships, two land-based hospitals, and 550 mobile clinics.
• The Ramon Magsaysay Awards were first given in 1958 and are named after a Philippine president who died in 1957.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Ramon Magsaysay Award: An annual award recognizing individuals and organizations in Asia for selfless service and transformative leadership.
• United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS): An international treaty adopted in 1982 that establishes a legal framework for all marine and maritime activities.
• Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP): A human rights organization based in Myanmar that documents political imprisonment and advocates for political prisoners.
• Friendship Bangladesh: A non-governmental organization founded in 2002 that provides healthcare, education, and disaster relief to marginalized communities in Bangladesh.