Sampurna Behura Honored with ‘Fight 4 Justice Award 2024’ for Child Rights Advocacy

The Delhi High Court Bar Association has conferred the ‘Fight 4 Justice Awards, II Edition, 2024’ on Sampurna Behura, the Executive Director of India Child Protection, in the ‘Child Rights’ category for her Public Interest Litigation before the Supreme Court, which transformed the legal landscape for children rights in India. Justice N Kotiswar Singh, Judge of the Supreme Court of India, presented the award to her at a function in New Delhi.

The PIL, which focused on the systemic lapses in implementing the Juvenile Justice Act of 2005, brought significant reforms to child protection laws, strengthening institutional frameworks nationwide.

Emphasizing that this recognition will further fuel society’s resolve to continue driving impactful change for children across India, Dr. Sampurna Behura, Executive Director, India Child Protection, said, “This award will go a long way in creating a platform for people to come together, amplify their voices, and take collective action to protect children from exploitation and abuse and create an enabling ecosystem for the protection of children.”

India Child Protection is one of the main partners of Just Rights for Children Alliance which works in more than 400 districts with over 200 NGO partners dedicated to combating crimes against children in the country. As an active member of the JRC Alliance, Sampurna Behura who hails from Odisha, has filed numerous petitions aimed at safeguarding children’s rights in the country.

Congratulating her, Bhuwan Ribhu, founder of Just Rights for Children Alliance, said, “The persistence and commitment shown by remarkable leaders like Dr. Sampurna Behura, who continue to work under the radar ensuring access to justice for children is an inspiration to the younger generation of activists. Her work on institutional reforms through Supreme Court and various High Courts has been instrumental in the reduction of child trafficking, child rape, child sexual abuse, child marriage, and child labour.”

The Fight for Justice Awards identifies and honours Indian citizens - the average litigants - who have won cases in the Supreme Court of India against all odds; cases that have resulted in landmark judgments and have made an impact on society as a whole.