Child rights activist Ribhu receives WJA’s Medal of Honor

KATHMANDU:  The World Jurist Association (WJA), a global body of legal advocates, has awarded the Medal of Honor to Bhuwan Ribhu, a globally recognized child rights activist and founder of Just Rights for Children.

Ribhu was honored during the WJA’s annual event, the World Law Congress, for his dedication to the global campaign to create a child marriage-free world.

The congress was held from May 4 to 6 in the Dominican Republic. More than 1,500 legal advocates and over 300 speakers from more than 70 countries participated in the event.

Established in 1963, the World Jurist Association has previously presented the Medal of Honor to globally renowned figures such as Nelson Mandela, Winston Churchill, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Kerry Kennedy and René Cassin.

Ribhu’s campaign against child marriage, launched in India, is now active in nearly 39 countries across three continents. He has led several child rights movements in Nepal as well, playing a significant role in campaigns against child marriage, child trafficking and child labor. He is also credited with rescuing Nepali children from Indian circuses.

In 2011, Ribhu succeeded in achieving a legal ban on the recruitment of children into circus industries. Over the past two decades, he has rescued thousands of Nepali girls subjected to sexual exploitation and children forced into domestic labor in India.

Ribhu also spearheaded Nepal’s Child Marriage-Free Campaign, launched last year. On December 31, under the joint initiative of Just Rights for Children in Nepal and BASE Nepal, Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli signed a declaration of commitment to the campaign. Ribhu has since held discussions with the Prime Minister about formulating a national strategy to declare Nepal child marriage-free by 2030.

While receiving the award, Ribhu shared his experiences and reflections on the global struggle for child rights.

“When fighting for justice for children, we may have to start alone, but we do not have to fight alone. The law stands as a shield for their rights—we must pressure governments to implement it meaningfully,” Ribhu stated during his speech.

WJA President Javier Cremades also praised Ribhu’s dedication and tireless work in the field of child rights.