Conference “15 Years of the HCCH Washington Declaration: Progress and Perspectives on International Family Relocation”
From 2 to 4 April 2025, the conference “15 Years of the HCCH Washington Declaration: Progress and Perspectives on International Family Relocation” was held at the Embassy of Canada in Washington, D.C., United States of America. The conference was jointly organised by the Embassy of Canada, the International Academy of Family Lawyers (IAFL), and the HCCH. This conference took place...
CGAP 2025 — Conclusions & Decisions now available!
The Council on General Affairs and Policy (CGAP) of the HCCH met from 4 to 7 March 2025. The meeting was attended by over 491 participants, representing 75 HCCH Members, four non-Member States, five intergovernmental organisations, nine international non-governmental organisations, and members of the Permanent Bureau (PB). The Conclusions & Decisions adopted by CGAP are now available in...
Publication of the HCCH 2024 Annual Report
The Permanent Bureau is pleased to announce the publication of the HCCH 2024 Annual Report. Throughout the past year, the HCCH continued to advance its legislative work and to promote the effective operation of its Conventions, successfully convening the meetings of two Experts’ Group, eight Working Groups, and one Special Commission, the latter tasked with reviewing the practical operation...
Publication of Vol. XXVI of the Judges' Newsletter on International Child Protection
The PB is pleased to announce the publication of the Vol. XXVI / Fall-Winter 2024 edition of the Judges' Newsletter on International Child Protection (Judges’ Newsletter). The Judges’ Newsletter provides information on developments relating to the HCCH Children’s Conventions, with a view to facilitating judicial cooperation in the field of international child protection. This...
Vacancy: Administrative Assistant (preferably full-time (40 hours) with flexibility for part-time (32 hours))
The Permanent Bureau of the HCCH (The Hague) is seeking an: Administrative Assistant (preferably full-time (40 hours) with flexibility for part-time (32 hours)) The successful candidate will possess the following qualifications: Very good secondary level of education, preferably post-secondary; At least three years of relevant professional experience, preferably within...
Importance of the work of the HCCH and the PCA for francophone Africa
On 10 January, representatives from nineteen French-speaking African States, along with a delegate from the Organisation internationale de la Francophonie (OIF), convened in Brussels for a meeting organised by Belgium, France, and Switzerland. The agenda focused on exploring the benefits of membership in the HCCH and the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA). The Belgian Minister of Foreign...
Publication of the Practical Handbook on the Operation of the 2000 Protection of Adults Convention
The Permanent Bureau (PB) is pleased to announce the publication of the Practical Handbook on the Operation of the 2000 Protection of Adults Convention (Practical Handbook). The Practical Handbook is intended to assist current and prospective Contracting Parties to the 2000 Protection of Adults Convention by providing practical guidance on the implementation and operation of the Convention, which...
Entry into force of Spanish as an additional official language of the HCCH
Today, 1 July 2024, marks the entry into force of Spanish as an additional official language of the HCCH. As of today, English, French, and Spanish are the three official languages of the Organisation. The Members of the HCCH took the historic decision to adopt Spanish as an official language in March 2023, during the annual meeting of the HCCH Council on General Affairs and Policy...
CGAP 2024 – Conclusions & Decisions now available!
The Council on General Affairs and Policy (CGAP) of the HCCH met from 5 to 8 March 2024. The meeting was attended by over 429 participants, representing 74 HCCH Members, 5 non-Member States, 7 intergovernmental organisations, 8 international non-governmental organisations, and members of the Permanent Bureau (PB). The Conclusions & Decisions adopted by CGAP are now available in English,...
Publication of the HCCH 2023 Annual Report
The Permanent Bureau is pleased to announce the publication of the HCCH 2023 Annual Report. Throughout the past year, the HCCH continued to advance its legislative work and to promote the effective operation of its Conventions, successfully convening the meetings of one Experts’ Group, four Working Groups, and one Special Commission, the latter tasked with reviewing the practical operation...