Among the other recipients of the Ramon Magsaysay Awards were a Thai pharmacist for work on fighting HIV/AIDS, a grassroots organizer in India and three environmental activists from China and the Philippines.
Ka Hsaw Wa, 36, received the award for "dauntlessly pursuing non-violent... channels of redress, exposure and education for the defense of human rights, the environment and democracy in Burma", the awards committee said, using the old name for Myanmar.
He was cited for his activism in Myanmar dating back to 1988 which included suffering torture by the military, the awards committee said. He later founded a group working for communities affected by the building of an oil pipeline.
Related story
Myanmar Human rights activist among Magsaysay winners
