SADAKO OGATA, 1997 Ramon Magsaysay Awardee from Japan, received Asia’s premier prize and highest honor when she was the UN High Commissioner for Refugees.  Under her leadership, the UNHCR became increasingly involved in assisting internally displaced people and other vulnerable civilians in conflict situations.

Other Magsaysay Awardees who are providing disenfranchised communities such as refugees equitable opportunities are CYNTHIA MAUNG who provides medical assistance along the Thailand-Myanmar border and STEVEN MUNCY whose holistic approach in Southeast Asia helped hundreds of thousands of displaced people.