Forum on Domestic Violence and the Operation of Article 13(1)(b) of the 1980 Child Abduction Convention
From 18 to 21 June 2024, the HCCH will hold a Forum on domestic violence and the related operation of Article 13(1)(b) of the 1980 Child Abduction Convention in Sandton, South Africa, co-hosted with the Government of South Africa and the University of Pretoria’s Centre for Child Law (see Conclusion and Decision No 31 of CGAP 2024). The Forum will bring together relevant parties with...
Ireland ratifies the 2000 Protection of Adults Convention
The Permanent Bureau has been informed that, on 31 May 2024, Ireland deposited its instrument of ratification of the Convention of 13 January 2000 on the International Protection of Adults (2000 Protection of Adults Convention). With the ratification of Ireland, the 2000 Protection of Adults Convention now has 16 Contracting Parties. It will enter into force for Ireland on 1 September 2024. More...
1961 Apostille Convention enters into force for Rwanda
Today, 5 June 2024, the Convention of 5 October 1961 Abolishing the Requirement of Legalisation for Foreign Public Documents (1961 Apostille Convention) entered into force for the Republic of Rwanda following the deposit of its instrument of accession on 6 October 2023. The 1961 Apostille Convention has 126 Contracting Parties. More information on this Convention is available on the Apostille...
First meeting of the Working Group established to complete the Country Profile and work on the draft Cooperation Request Recommended Model Form for the 1996 Child Protection Convention
In March 2024, the Council on General Affairs and Policy (CGAP) approved the establishment of a Working Group (WG) to complete the Country Profile for the 1996 Child Protection Convention and requested that, subsequent to its work on the Country Profile, the WG progress work on the draft Cooperation Request Recommended Model Form under the 1996 Child Protection Convention (see Conclusion and...
First Meetings of the Working Groups (WGs) on the Practical Handbooks and Country Profiles for the 1965 Service and 1970 Evidence Conventions
In March 2024, the Council on General Affairs and Policy (CGAP) approved the establishment of two Working Groups (WGs), consisting of representatives from a variety of geographical regions, to review and refine updates to the Practical Handbooks and Country Profiles relevant to the 1965 Service and 1970 Evidence Conventions, respectively (see Conclusion and Decisions Nos 46-49 of CGAP...
Kick-off Meeting of the Digital Tokens Project
In March 2024, the Council on General Affairs and Policy (CGAP) decided to commence the Digital Tokens Project (see Conclusion & Decision No 12). Under this project, the Permanent Bureau (PB), in partnership with relevant subject-matter experts and Observers, is studying the private international law issues relating to digital tokens. On 15 May 2024, the kick-off meeting of the Digital Tokens...
Georgia ratifies the 2007 Child Support Convention and the 2007 Maintenance Obligations Protocol
On 14 May 2024, Georgia deposited its instruments of ratification of the Convention of 23 November 2007 on the International Recovery of Child Support and Other Forms of Family Maintenance (2007 Child Support Convention) and of the Protocol of 23 November 2007 on the Law Applicable to Maintenance Obligations (2007 Maintenance Obligations Protocol). The ceremony was held at the Ministry of Foreign...
Kick-off Meeting of the Experts’ Group on Central Bank Digital Currencies
In March 2024, the Council on General Affairs and Policy (CGAP) decided to establish an Experts’ Group to study the applicable law and jurisdiction issues raised by the cross-border use and transfers of CBDCs (see Conclusion and Decisions Nos 9 and 10 of CGAP 2024). Following on this decision, the Secretary General of the HCCH convoked the Experts’ Group on Central Bank Digital...
Second Meeting of the Working Group on Parentage / Surrogacy
From 8 to 12 April 2024, the Working Group on Parentage / Surrogacy met for the second time. The meeting, held in hybrid format, was attended by 46 delegates and other participants, representing 27 HCCH Members and three Observers, as well as by members of the Permanent Bureau of the HCCH. Pursuant to its mandate, the Working Group continued its consideration of draft provisions for one new...
Pre-registration for the Forum on Domestic Violence and the Operation of Article 13(1)(b) of the 1980 Child Abduction Convention now open for all interested delegates and experts
The Permanent Bureau is pleased to announce that the Forum on Domestic Violence and the Operation of Article 13(1)(b) of the 1980 Child Abduction Convention (Forum) will be held in Sandton, South Africa, from Tuesday 18 to Friday 21 June 2024 (see C&D No 31 of the 2024 CGAP meeting). While in-person participation is strongly encouraged, passive online participation (listening only) will...