NLUO’s Journal on the Rights of the Child Earns Global Recognition; Justice Ratho Leads the Launch
(Judicial Quest News Network)
In a landmark moment for legal academia and child rights advocacy, Justice Savitri Ratho of the Orissa High Court formally unveiled the inaugural internationally indexed issue of the Journal on the Rights of the Child, published by the National Law University Odisha (NLUO). The launch marks a significant milestone in NLUO’s commitment to advancing scholarly discourse on child rights and legal protections for minors.
A Scholarly Leap Toward Global Engagement
The Journal on the Rights of the Child is the first of its kind from NLUO to be indexed in an international academic database, signalling its entry into the global arena of legal research. The journal aims to provide a rigorous platform for interdisciplinary scholarship on issues affecting children, including juvenile justice, child welfare, education, trafficking, and rights-based policy frameworks.
She further noted that the journal’s international indexing would enhance its visibility and credibility, allowing contributions from global scholars and practitioners to enrich the Indian legal landscape.
Editorial Vision
The editorial board of the journal comprises distinguished academics and legal experts with a focus on child rights law. The journal invites submissions from researchers, practitioners, and policymakers, and aims to foster dialogue between law and allied disciplines such as psychology, sociology, and public health.
NLUO Vice-Chancellor Prof. Ved Kumari lauded the journal’s launch as a reflection of the university’s dedication to socially responsive legal education. “This journal is not just an academic publication—it is a voice for children whose rights often go unheard,” she remarked.
Global Recognition and Future Outlook
With its inclusion in international indexing platforms, the journal is poised to become a key resource for comparative legal studies and global child rights advocacy. It will serve as a bridge between Indian legal scholarship and international best practices, contributing to more informed and empathetic legal reforms.
The launch of the Journal on the Rights of the Child stands as a testament to NLUO’s growing stature in legal academia and its firm commitment to justice for the most vulnerable members of society.
The inaugural ISSN-registered edition of the journal features eleven original contributions encompassing research papers, case commentaries, infographics, and conference proceedings. These works, authored by esteemed academics, researchers, advocates, and students, address critical themes such as public finance, education, nutrition, consent, the role of social work in the rehabilitation and reintegration of children in conflict with law, the decriminalization of young love, digital safety of children, and the advancement of child-centred justice. The entirety of these scholarly articles is accessible freely through the university’s official website.
The journal invites year-round submissions, with manuscripts to be forwarded via email to ccr@nluo.ac.in. This edition enjoys the generous support of CRY, marking a sustained collaboration with CCR-NLUO and underscoring their mutual dedication to promoting child rights through robust academic engagement.
In her opening remarks, Professor Biraj Swain highlighted the stringent academic protocols upheld during the journal’s preparation, which include rigorous blind peer review, comprehensive fact-checking, plagiarism detection, and AI verification, thereby ensuring the highest standards of quality and ethical integrity. A dedicated team comprising Associate Editors—Dr. Swagatika Samal, Dr. Pradipta Kumar Sarangi, Mr. Ankit Kumar Keshri, Dr. Rashmi Rakha Baug, Dr. Shubhanginee Singh—and student editor Ms. Madhulika Tripathy, diligently collaborated to oversee all compliance and scrutiny before finalising the selected submissions for publication.
The Journal on Child Rights has unveiled its latest edition, supported by an eminent Editorial Advisory Board featuring Hon’ble Justice Madan B. Lokur, Chairperson, United Nations Internal Justice Council & Former Judge of the Supreme Court of India; Hon’ble Justice Gita Mittal, Former Chief Justice, Jammu & Kashmir High Court; Prof. Bernd-Deiter Meier, University of Hannover; Prof. Christopher Birbeck, University of Salford, UK; and Prof. Bhabani P. Panda, Director, School of Law, KIIT.
The Editorial Board is led by Prof. Ved Kumari as Editor-in-Chief, joined by Prof. Biraj Swain (Editor) and distinguished academicians from leading Indian and international universities. Together, both boards ensure that the journal upholds rigorous academic and interdisciplinary standards in advancing child rights discourse.
Reaffirming the journal’s mission, Prof. Ved Kumari underscored the need to bridge the gap between research, policy, and practice to build an inclusive framework addressing the rights and wellbeing of children. Prof. Ganguly highlighted the strategic advantage of the Centre for Child Rights (CCR) being housed within a university setting, enabling impactful research, policy engagement, and collaboration with State authorities and the Hon’ble High Court’s Juvenile Justice Committee.
Ms. Marwaha emphasized placing child rights at the core of policy and public discourse, ensuring the journal reflects both rigorous scholarship and lived realities.
The CCR’s core team—Ms. Akanksha Yadav, Mr. Amulya Kumar Swain, and research scholar T.S. Swaraj—along with an active student committee, continues to drive innovative outreach through newsletters and social media explainers on child rights. The 6th edition of the CCR Newsletter (Oct–Nov 2025) was launched at the event by Hon’ble Justice Ratho, alongside dignitaries, faculty, and students.
