Bhuwan Ribhu becomes first Indian lawyer honoured by World Jurist Association

Bhuwan Ribhu

In a landmark moment for India's legal and human rights landscape, renowned child rights activist and lawyer Bhuwan Ribhu has become the first Indian lawyer to receive the prestigious ‘Medal of Honour' from the World Jurist Association (WJA). The award was presented during the World Law Congress, currently underway in the Dominican Republic from May 4 to May 6.

The WJA, the world's oldest global association of jurists established in 1963, recognised Ribhu's two-decade-long crusade for child protection and justice through a combination of legal interventions and grassroots mobilisation. Over 1,500 legal experts and 300 speakers from more than 70 countries are attending this year's conference.

Ribhu joins a historic list of WJA honourees that includes Winston Churchill, Nelson Mandela, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, René Cassin, Kerry Kennedy, and King Felipe VI of Spain.

The award was presented by Eddy Olivares Ortega, Minister of Labour of the Dominican Republic, and Javier Cremades, President of the World Jurist Association. Also present at the ceremony was Mayra Jiménez, the Dominican Republic's Minister for Women.

In his acceptance speech, Ribhu said: "Children should never have to fight for justice alone. The law must be their shield, and justice must be their right."

Over the past 20 years, Ribhu has spearheaded more than 60 Public Interest Litigations (PILs) related to child rights, many of which have resulted in landmark rulings by the Supreme Court of India and various High Courts. A 2011 case led by him helped align India's legal definition of human trafficking with the UN Protocol, while a 2013 campaign brought national attention to India's missing children crisis.

He is the founder of Just Rights for Children (JRC), which has grown into the world's largest legal intervention network for child protection, comprising over 250 organisations globally. Through JRC, Ribhu has helped transform India's response to crimes against children, ensuring stronger prosecution frameworks and heightened prevention efforts.

Ribhu has also played a pivotal role in shaping India's legal stance against online and offline child sexual exploitation, particularly the circulation of Child Sexual Exploitative and Abuse Material (CSEAM). His work has contributed to efforts aimed at ending child marriage by 2030.

His advocacy is encapsulated in his book When Children Have Children, which introduced the PICKET strategy to combat child marriage.

Praising Ribhu's tireless efforts, WJA President Javier Cremades said: "Bhuwan firmly believes that justice is the strongest pillar of democracy. His efforts have saved hundreds of thousands of children and women and set legal frameworks that will protect generations to come."

Ribhu's work stands as a testament to the power of law in driving social change. As India grapples with complex child protection challenges, his recognition on the world stage offers both validation and renewed momentum for ongoing reforms.