Historic First: Indian Lawyer Bhuwan Ribhu Honoured by World Jurist Association for Child Rights Advocacy

New Delhi: In a landmark moment for Indian jurisprudence, eminent lawyer and child rights crusader Bhuwan Ribhu has become the first Indian lawyer to receive the ‘Medal of Honour’ from the World Jurist Association (WJA). The award was conferred at the prestigious World Law Congress, held from May 4–6 in the Dominican Republic, which saw participation from over 1,500 legal luminaries and 300 speakers across 70+ countries.

The WJA, established in 1963, has previously honoured iconic global figures such as Sir Winston Churchill, Nelson Mandela, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, King Felipe VI of Spain, René Cassin, and Kerry Kennedy for their extraordinary contributions to justice and the rule of law.

Bhuwan Ribhu has led a pioneering legal career spanning over 20 years, filing and arguing 60 Public Interest Litigations (PILs) that have resulted in landmark rulings by the Supreme Court of India and various High Courts. These rulings have significantly advanced the cause of child protection, particularly in the areas of trafficking, child marriage, child pornography, and sexual violence against children.

He is also the founder of Just Rights for Children (JRC)—the world’s largest legal intervention network for child protection—currently working with over 250 organisations globally to safeguard children’s rights.

Accepting the honour, Bhuwan Ribhu said, “Children should never have to fight for justice alone. The law must be their shield, and justice must be their right.”

He received the Medal of Honour from Eddy Olivares Ortega, Minister of Labor, Dominican Republic, and Javier Cremades, President of the World Jurist Association. Also present was Mayra Jiménez, Minister for Women, Dominican Republic.

Applauding Ribhu’s lifelong dedication to justice, Javier Cremades, President of the WJA, stated, “Bhuwan believes that justice is the strongest pillar of democracy. His tireless work has saved hundreds of thousands of children and women, while laying down legal frameworks that will protect future generations. This award is a recognition of his relentless pursuit of justice and his vision of a safer, more equitable world for children.”

Through Just Rights for Children (JRC), Ribhu has catalysed systemic change in how crimes against children are investigated, prosecuted, and prevented. His litigation and advocacy have shaped India’s legal response to child trafficking, missing children, and online sexual exploitation.

A landmark 2011 Supreme Court ruling—resulting from a case argued by Ribhu—defined trafficking in accordance with the UN Protocol. Another significant 2013 ruling followed his campaign to highlight India’s missing children crisis.

He has been instrumental in pushing for reforms around Child Sexual Exploitative and Abuse Material (CSEAM) and has worked extensively to end impunity in child rape cases.

A leading figure in the global campaign to end child marriage, Ribhu authored the PICKET strategy, outlined in his book When Children Have Children. In a significant milestone, the Supreme Court of India officially endorsed the PICKET framework in its 2024 guidelines to combat child marriage, positioning India to achieve this goal by 2030.