The Ramon Magsaysay Award Foundation names BO KYI as one of the 2026 Ramon Magsaysay Awardees, for “his life’s work as a steadfast pursuit of truth, accountability, and justice. His enduring commitment reflects extraordinary moral courage, personal sacrifice, and an unwavering belief that democracy and human dignity are always worth defending—and that even in the face of oppression, the truth must be told, justice must be pursued, and the freedom to believe must be upheld and defended at all costs.”
A former political prisoner, BO KYI has worked for decades on issues related to human rights in Myanmar. He is a co-founder of the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP), which documents political arrests and detention and supports political detainees and their families.
BO KYI was arrested following Myanmar’s pro-democracy demonstrations in 1988 and was imprisoned twice, spending a total of seven years in detention. In 2000, after fleeing to the Thai border to avoid rearrest, he co-founded AAPP with fellow former political prisoners.
For more than two decades, AAPP has documented political imprisonment and human rights violations in Myanmar. Following the military coup in February 2021, the organization has continued to document arbitrary arrests, political imprisonment, and violence, while providing support and advocacy for affected individuals and families.
In a statement on being conferred with the Ramon Magsaysay Award, BO KYIsaid: “It is a great honor to receive this precious Award, which carries forward the legacy of Ramon Magsaysay, a leader of integrity and courage. I feel his spirit with me as we continue to work toward a better future for the people of Burma. I dedicate this Award to the Burmese people fighting injustice, especially the political prisoners who continue to stand strong behind bars. If we continue to work together in solidarity to secure the release of all political prisoners, including Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, I believe we can build a Burma that brings peace, prosperity and stability to its people and the region.”
BO KYI joins RUNA KHAN of Bangladesh, recognized for her decades-long work empowering marginalized communities living in the country’s remote and climate-vulnerable riverine regions, and TOMMY KOH of Singapore, a career diplomat and public servant recognized for his contributions to international diplomacy, global cooperation, and the peaceful resolution of disputes, as recipients of the 2026 Ramon Magsaysay Award.
The formal presentation of the 2026 Ramon Magsaysay Awards will take place during the 68th Ramon Magsaysay Awards Presentation Ceremonies at the Metropolitan Theater in Manila, Philippines at 4:30 PM on Sunday, 15 November 2026.
For more information on the 68th Ramon Magsaysay Awards and the 2026 Ramon Magsaysay Awardees, visit www.rmaward.asia and the Ramon Magsaysay Award’s official social media accounts.