Overview

• Bhuwan Ribhu received the prestigious Medal of Honour from the World Jurist Association at the World Law Congress 2025 in the Dominican Republic, marking a first for an Indian lawyer.
• Ribhu was recognized for over 20 years of legal advocacy, including 60 public interest litigations that redefined child protection laws in India.
• His work led to key reforms such as the Supreme Court adopting UN anti-trafficking definitions, criminalizing trafficking, mandating FIRs for missing children, and banning hazardous child labor.
• As founder of Just Rights for Children, Ribhu has built one of the world’s largest child protection legal networks, uniting over 250 organizations across multiple countries.
• The recognition strengthens Ribhu’s global campaign to end child marriage by 2030, with ongoing grassroots efforts in India, Nepal, and beyond.