Is Bhuwan Ribhu the First Indian Lawyer Honoured by the World Jurist Association?

Jaipur, May 6 (NationPress) In a historic achievement for India on the international legal front, renowned child rights attorney Bhuwan Ribhu has made history as the first Indian to be awarded the ‘Medal of Honour’ by the World Jurist Association (WJA).

The prestigious award was conferred during the World Law Congress, which took place from May 4 to 6 in the Dominican Republic.

This significant gathering attracted over 1,500 legal professionals and 300 speakers hailing from more than 70 nations.

Ribhu was honoured for his remarkable two decades of innovative work in promoting child protection and rights through legal measures and community engagement.

Established in 1963, the WJA -- the most ancient juristic association globally -- has previously recognised illustrious personalities such as Winston Churchill, Nelson Mandela, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, King Felipe VI of Spain, Rene Cassin, and Kerry Kennedy for their significant contributions to justice and the rule of law.

Throughout the last 20 years, Ribhu has initiated and led 60 PILs, contributing to groundbreaking judgments from the Supreme Court and various High Courts across India.

He is the founder of Just Rights for Children (JRC), which stands as the largest global legal intervention network focused on child protection and is expanding its international outreach.

In Rajasthan alone, JRC collaborates with 22 NGO partners across 44 districts, aiming to combat child marriage and improve child protection by 2030. The state is grappling with a child marriage prevalence of 25.4% as per the NFHS-5 (2019–21), exceeding the national average of 23.3%.

While receiving the award from Eddy Olivares Ortega, Minister of Labour of the Dominican Republic, and Javier Cremades, President of the WJA, Ribhu expressed: “Children should never have to fight for justice alone. The law must be their shield, and justice must be their right.”

Present at the ceremony was Mayra Jimenez, the Dominican Republic’s Minister of Women.

Praising Ribhu’s accomplishments, WJA President Javier Cremades stated, “Bhuwan firmly believes that justice is the strongest pillar of democracy. His efforts have saved hundreds of thousands of children and women, establishing legal frameworks that will safeguard generations to come.”

Ribhu’s work has catalyzed systemic reforms targeting the eradication of child marriage, trafficking, child labour, and child sexual abuse. He continues to play a pivotal role in the global initiative to eliminate child marriage by 2030.

Reacting to this honour, JRC National Convenor Ravi Kant remarked, “This is a landmark moment not just for our network, but for India’s child rights movement. It underscores the power of legal action to protect children and spotlights the relentless efforts of thousands of grassroots defenders.”