ABOUT US
World Jurist Association
“Justice is the same for everyone”
Javier Cremades
Co-Founder, JCW
The World Jurist Association (WJA) was founded in 1963 in Washington D.C. The organisation was formed in response to an international outcry for a free and open forum where judges, lawyers, law professors and other professionals from around the world could work cooperatively to strengthen and expand the rule of law and its institutions through the nations of the world. Every two years, WJA hosts the World Law Congress where jurists come together to discuss current day challenges and explore ways to ensure peace through the rule of law.
Since 2019, Mr. Javier Cremades, has been president of the WJA. Mr. Cremades is founder and president of Cremades & Calvo-Sotelo, a law firm that operates in 11 cities in several European and American countries. As president of WJA, Mr. Cremades has promoted several international summits that have brought together world leaders in law and heads of state, developing wide-ranging outreach on the importance of the rule of law.
Among his recognitions, Mr. Cremades was named Lawyer of the Year in Spain by Forbes magazine (2015) and Lawyer of the Year in the World by the WJA (2017). Mr. Cremades holds the Medals of Honor of the Bar Associations of Madrid, Barcelona and Malaga, and the National Jurisprudence Award of Mexico and is currently Honorary Consul of South Korea in Malaga and Honorary Consul of Mexico in South Korea.
In 2022, Mr. Cremades led the team of lawyers who conducted an independent legal audit of the child sexual abuses in the Spanish Church.
Just Rights for Children
“The rule of law must first protect the children, before the children can rise up and protect the rule of law.”
Bhuwan Ribhu
Co-Founder, JCW
Just Rights for Children (JRC) is a network of over 250 civil society organisations (CSOs) working across India, Nepal, Kenya, and the United States. It has grown into one of the largest global platforms dedicated to protecting children from violence and eliminating abuse and exploitation by driving systemic legal action and deterrence.
Under the leadership of its Founder, Mr. Bhuwan Ribhu, JRC, has strategically used Public Interest Litigations (PILs) in India to transform child protection laws, strengthen enforcement mechanisms, and ensure institutional accountability. Mr. Ribhu is the driving force behind Child Marriage Free India, India's biggest civil society campaign to stop child marriages. His efforts have now grown into a global movement, known as Child Marriage Free World, which is active in 30 countries. In recognition of his pioneering legal and policy interventions on child protection, Mr. Ribhu became the first Indian lawyer to receive the prestigious Medal of Honour from the WJA at the World Law Congress held in 2025.
LEGAL ACTION
RECENT LANDMARK PILs AND JUDICIAL ADVANCEMENTS (JRC INDIA)
Just Rights for Children Alliance v. S. Harish & Others (Supreme Court, 2024)
The Court expanded the legal definition of “possession” of Child Sexual Exploitation and Abuse Material (CSEAM), holding that private possession of such material, without downloading, storing, or distributing it, is a serious offence under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012 and the Information Technology Act, 2000. Further, the Court directed that the term “child pornography” to be replaced with “CSEAM”.
Bachpan Bachao Andolan v. Union of India (Supreme Court, 2024)
The Court mandated nationwide adoption of the Ministry of Education's Guidelines on School Safety and Security, 2021, across all private and government schools in India. This direction is set to benefit more than 260 million school children by strengthening child protection mechanisms within educational institutions.
Society for Enlightenment and Voluntary Action & Anr v. Union of India (Supreme Court, 2024)
The Court issued comprehensive directions to eradicate child marriage across India and have robust enforcement of the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006, emphasising a comprehensive approach of prevention, protection, and prosecution, and accountability of local authorities and community-level stakeholders.
Just Rights for Children Alliance & Bachpan Bachao Andolan v. State of Rajasthan (Rajasthan High Court, 2024)
Landmark order by Rajasthan High Court prohibiting mass child marriages planned on certain auspicious days in the State and fixed accountability of village government officials for failing to prevent child marriages.
Bachpan Bachao Andolan v. Union of India & Ors. (Supreme Court, 2023)
The Court directed all States and Union Territories to adopt the Support Person Guidelines formulated by the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights to provide psychosocial and legal assistance to child victims under the POCSO Act and directed mandatory appointment of Support Persons in every POCSO case. This landmark directive institutionalized a nationwide victim support framework, benefiting over 0.2 million children, and ensured child-friendly interventions throughout the legal process.
Surendra Manjhi Vs Union of India (Supreme Court, 2022)
JRC NGO Partner raised the issue of inadequate rehabilitation for victims of child labour and trafficking, leading to a mandate for the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) to develop a comprehensive support plan. JRC assisted the NHRC and the Ministry of Labour in drafting the SOP for identification, release, and rehabilitation of bonded labourers, for timely compensation, vocational assistance, and social reintegration.