A personal tragedy propelled her to fight for others. Senator Angkhana Neelapaijit has been named one of Thailand’s Women of the Year by the Bangkok Post for her relentless advocacy for human rights, citing her fearless dedication in pursuit of justice.

“Senator Angkhana Neelapaijit, 68, has been praised for her unwavering courage and efforts for the promotion and protection of human rights in the country over the past two decades. Her determination, bravery, skill and passion have inspired Thai people and communities to respect and protect equal rights for all,” the Post wrote.

A nurse by training, Angkhana was thrust into the public’s consciousness in 2004 when her husband Somchai disappeared. A lawyer, Somchai had devoted much of his career to defending the vulnerable, particularly Muslims in the southern provinces plagued by civil unrest, against prosecution by state officials.

Somchai’s disappearance was believed to be related to his battle against the unfair treatment of Muslims living in the deep South.

“In the 20 years since he went missing, Angkhana has never ceased her efforts to ignite the public's awareness of human rights to ensure people receive their basic rights and freedoms that should never be violated, regardless of their beliefs or way of life,” the Post wrote.

In 2009, she founded the Justice for Peace Foundation, a network of human rights and peace advocates that has done important work. With her profile rising, in 2015 she was appointed a commissioner of the National Human Rights Commission. Amnesty International described her as “a leading human rights defender in the South.”

Her work efforts earned her the Ramon Magsaysay Award in 2019.  The award is regarded as Asia’s equivalent of the Nobel Peace Prize. The board of trustees noted her unwavering courage in seeking justice and her systematic and unflagging work to reform the legal system.

“[This] awardee has shown the story of an ordinary woman's struggle for justice, democracy and the rule of law,” the Magsaysay board wrote when announcing her prize.