With this award, Ribhu becomes the first Indian lawyer to receive this global recognition for his long-standing work in protecting children through the legal system.
New Delhi, May 6 – Bhuwan Ribhu, a well-known child rights activist and advocate from India, has been awarded the prestigious “Medal of Honour” by the World Jurist Association (WJA).
This honour was presented to him at the World Law Congress 2025, held in the Dominican Republic from May 4 to 6. With this award, Ribhu becomes the first Indian lawyer to receive this global recognition for his long-standing work in protecting children through the legal system.
He received the medal jointly from Eddy Olivares Ortega, Minister of Labour of the Dominican Republic, and Javier Cremades, President of the World Jurist Association.
Javier Cremades praised Ribhu’s dedication by saying:
“Bhuwan firmly believes that justice is the strongest pillar of democracy and has dedicated his life to the service of justice for children and women who are victims of sexual crimes in his country and globally. His efforts have saved hundreds of thousands of children and women and set legal frameworks that will protect generations to come. This award is a recognition of his tireless work building a safe, more just world for children through the power of the law.”
Ribhu, in his acceptance speech, shared a powerful message:
“Children should never have to fight for justice alone. The law must be their shield, and justice must be their right.”
He further added:
“The Medal of Honour marks a deeply humbling milestone in a journey of two decades of love and service to children and society. It is for every parent who found the courage, resilience, and will to seek justice—and for every child whose indomitable spirit defines the future of our shared humanity. We may walk together or apart, but we walk the same path—with one unwavering goal: justice for children, everywhere. This honour is yours.”
For more than 20 years, Bhuwan Ribhu has worked to protect children from crimes like child marriage, child trafficking, sexual abuse, and forced labour. His legal efforts have helped change how Indian law treats these issues—from seeing them as welfare matters to treating them as serious criminal justice concerns.
Through over 60 public interest litigations, Ribhu has played a key role in changing important laws in India. Some of his biggest contributions include:
- Helping the Supreme Court adopt the UN Protocol’s definition of trafficking, making it a criminal offence.
- Ensuring mandatory FIRs for all missing children.
- Banning child labour in hazardous work environments.
Ribhu’s ideas were also included in the Justice Verma Committee, formed after the 2012 Nirbhaya case. His proposals led to the addition of new crimes like stalking, voyeurism, trafficking, and public servant accountability in Indian law.
He has also helped shape how Indian courts deal with child sexual abuse, child marriage, and child sexual exploitation materials (CSEAM).
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Bhuwan Ribhu is the founder of Just Rights for Children (JRC).
He said the award also recognises JRC’s mission:
“The recognition… also affirmed the mission of Just Rights for Children (JRC).”
JRC is now one of the world’s largest legal child protection networks, working with over 250 organisations in India, Nepal, Kenya, and the United States. It fights against child abuse, supports survivors, and ensures that offenders are punished.
JRC works across 28 states in India, making real changes in how the justice system treats child protection.
Ribhu is also the driving force behind Child Marriage Free India, a people-led campaign that started at the grassroots. It has become India’s biggest civil society campaign to stop child marriages.
In 2024, Ribhu helped start Bal Vivah Mukt Bharat in India and a similar campaign in Nepal. His efforts have now grown into a global movement, known as Child Marriage Free World, which is active in 39 countries.
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Founded in 1963, the World Jurist Association has honoured many international legal heroes like Nelson Mandela, Winston Churchill, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, and René Cassin.
Now, Bhuwan Ribhu joins this prestigious list for his unmatched contribution to child rights and justice. The Medal of Honour is given only to those who make a global impact in human rights and justice, including Presidents, Prime Ministers, judges, prosecutors, ministers, academics, and lawyers.
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