Bhuwan Ribhu - First Indian Lawyer to receive Prestigious Honour

Eminent child rights lawyer and founder of Just Rights for Children, Bhuwan Ribhu, has made history as the first Indian lawyer to receive the ‘Medal of Honour’ from the World Jurist Association (WJA) at the World Law Congress in the Dominican Republic. Ribhu has strong ties to Salem district in Tamil Nadu, where the Indian Community Welfare Organisation (I. C. W. O. ) collaborates with Just Rights for Children. This organization is the largest legal intervention network of NGOs focused on child protection in India, with partnerships spanning 416 districts. 

Established in 1963, the World Jurist Association is the oldest association of jurists and has previously honored notable figures, including Winston Churchill and Nelson Mandela, for their contributions to justice and the rule of law. A. J. Hariharan from I. C. W. O. expressed pride in Ribhu's recognition, stating that it's a significant achievement for all those working to protect children. He emphasized their commitment to making Salem District free from child marriage by 2030 and to preventing child trafficking for labor. 

The event in the Dominican Republic gathered over 1500 legal experts and 300 speakers from more than 70 countries. Bhuwan Ribhu was honored for his extensive two-decade work in advancing child protection through legal interventions and grassroots efforts. Ravi Kant, National Convenor of Just Rights for Children, remarked that this recognition is a pivotal moment for both their network and the entire child rights movement in India, shining light on the essential role of legal intervention in safeguarding children's rights. 

Javier Cremades, President of WJA, praised Ribhu's commitment to justice for children and women who suffer from sexual crimes. He acknowledged that Ribhu's efforts have positively impacted thousands and established legal frameworks that will benefit future generations. Ribhu received the Medal of Honour from Eddy Olivares Ortega, the Hon’ble Minister of Labor of the Dominican Republic, with the Hon’ble Minister of Women, Mayra Jiménez, also in attendance. 

Ribhu has initiated over 60 Public Interest Litigations (PILs), leading to significant rulings in the Supreme Court and various High Courts. His work in 2011 resulted in the Supreme Court defining trafficking, and a 2013 campaign on missing children led to landmark judgments changing legal perceptions on such cases. He has played a key role in legal reforms against child sexual exploitation and has strengthened laws against child rape and marriage. His PICKET strategy to combat child marriage was endorsed by the Supreme Court in 2024 and is adopted by I. C. W. O. , which is confident in achieving a child marriage-free district by 2030.

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