The Friend Who Showed Up
Justice for children does not enforce itself. It takes people. Mobilisers are the children, survivors, faith leaders, and grassroots organisations who demand that crimes against children are taken seriously and prosecuted. This is the story of a girl who refused to let her friend's future be taken away.
Early this year, the Just Rights for Children toll-free helpline received a tip: a 15-year-old girl named Ruksha, in Balarpur village, Purnea District, Bihar, was being married off that same day. JRC partner Prayas Juvenile Aid Centre (JAC), active in that district, was alerted immediately. They coordinated with the Village Head and relevant government officials and went directly to the family. The family refused to cooperate.
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What broke the impasse was not legal pressure alone. It was Ruksha's friend, Siya.
Siya came forward and told the team that Ruksha was 15, that her family was forcing marriage on her. She confirmed her own age as the same as Ruksha's, giving the team the evidentiary grounding to formally involve the police. The marriage was stopped.
Siya does not think of herself as having done something extraordinary. For her, it was simply what friendship required.​​​​​