Cuba accedes to 1980 Child Abduction Convention; Paraguay accedes to 1996 Child Protection Convention; Philippines accedes to 1961 Apostille Convention

On 12 September 2018, Cuba, Paraguay and the Philippines joined various Hague Conventions, coinciding with the celebration of the 125th anniversary of the Hague Conference on Private International Law (the “HCCH”). 
 
Cuba deposited its instrument of accession to the Hague Convention of 25 October 1980 on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction (“Child Abduction Convention”). The Child Abduction Convention, which now has 99 Contracting Parties, will enter into force for Cuba on 1 December 2018. 
 
At the ceremony, which took place at the Permanent Bureau of the HCCH, the Republic of Cuba was represented by H.E. Mrs Soraya Álvarez, Ambassador of Cuba. 
 
Although not yet a Member State of the HCCH, Cuba is a Connected State and is now party to three Hague Conventions. 
  
Paraguay deposited its instrument of accession to the Hague Convention of 19 October 1996 on Jurisdiction, Applicable Law, Recognition, Enforcement and Co-operation in Respect of Parental Responsibility and Measures for the Protection of Children (“Child Protection Convention”), making it the 49th Contracting Party to the Convention. The Convention will enter into force for Paraguay on 1 July 2019. 
 
At the ceremony, the Republic of Paraguay was represented by H.E. Mr Rigoberto Gauto, Ambassador of Paraguay and Mr Julio Duarte, Counsellor in International Law, Ministry of Foreign Affairs. 
 
Paraguay has been a Member of the Hague Conference since 2005 and is now party to four Hague Conventions. 
  
The Philippines deposited its instrument of accession to the Hague Convention of 5 October 1961 Abolishing the Requirement of Legalisation for Foreign Public Documents ("Apostille Convention"). With the accession of the Philippines, the Apostille Convention now has 117 Contracting Parties. Following the usual six-month period, the Convention will enter into force for the Philippines on 14 May 2019.  
 
The Republic of the Philippines was represented at the ceremony by H.E. Jaime Victor B. Ledda, Ambassador and Mr Zoilo A. Velasco, Second Secretary and Consul for the Embassy; the Hon. Noel G. Tijam, the Hon. Alexander G. Gesmundo, and the Hon. Marvic Mario Victor F. Leonen, Associate Justices of the Supreme Court of the Philippines; as well as, for the Department of Foreign Affairs: Mr J. Eduardo Malaya, Assistant Secretary, Office of Legal Affairs; Mr Neil Ferrer, Assistant Secretary, Office of Consular Affairs; and Mr Eric P. Valenzuela, Director, Authentication Division  
 
The Philippines has been a Member of the Hague Conference since 2010 and is now party to three Hague Conventions.  
 
On behalf of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands (i.e., the Depositary of the Hague Conventions), the Head of the Treaties Division, Ms Coos ‘t Hoen and Senior Legal Officer, Mr Mark Groen, attended the ceremony. Secretary General Christophe Bernasconi, First Secretary Philippe Lortie, Mr Ignacio Goicoechea, Representative of the Regional Office for Latin America and the Caribbean (ROLAC) and Mr Frank Poon, Representative of the Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific (ROAP) represented the Permanent Bureau of the HCCH.