Fifth Meeting of the Working Group on Parentage / Surrogacy
From 10 to 14 November 2025, the Working Group (WG) on Parentage / Surrogacy met for the fifth time. The meeting, held in hybrid format, had over 45 registered delegates and other experts, representing 24 HCCH Members and three Observers, in addition to members of the Permanent Bureau of the HCCH. Pursuant to its mandate, the WG continued its consideration of draft provisions for one new...
Monaco accedes to the 2005 Choice of Court Convention
On 27 November 2025, the Principality of Monaco deposited its instrument of accession to the Convention of 30 June 2005 on Choice of Court Agreements (2005 Choice of Court Convention). At the ceremony, held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands, depositary of the HCCH Conventions, Monaco was represented by H.E. Mr Frédéric Labarrère, Ambassador to the...
Meeting of the Working Party on Mediation
On 26 November 2025, the Working Party on Cross-Border Family Mediation in the Context of the Malta Process (Working Party on Mediation) met online. The meeting had over 30 registered participants, representing 16 HCCH Members and two Observer States, in addition to members of the Permanent Bureau of the HCCH. During the meeting, participants heard about the system of cross-border mediation...
HCCH a|Bridged – Edition 2025: Enhancing the Global Circulation of Judgments with the HCCH 2019 Judgments Convention
On 20 November 2025, the Permanent Bureau (PB) of the HCCH hosted HCCH a|Bridged – Edition 2025, dedicated to the 2019 Judgments Convention. The online event had over 190 registered participants from 57 States, representing HCCH Members, non-Member States, intergovernmental organisations, non-governmental organisations, and independent experts. International experts convened to discuss the...
Third meeting of the Working Group dedicated to the Model Forms for Chapter II of the 1970 Evidence Convention
On 25 November 2025, the third meeting of the Working Group established to finalise the Model Forms pertaining to Chapter II of the 1970 Evidence Convention (WG) was held online, hosted by the Permanent Bureau (PB) of the HCCH. The meeting had 50 registered delegates and other experts, representing 24 HCCH Members and one Observer, in addition to members of the PB. Pursuant to its mandate...
Second Meeting of the Experts’ Group on Digital Tokens
From 18 to 20 November 2025, the Experts’ Group (EG) on Digital Tokens met for the second time. The meeting, held in hybrid format, had over 50 registered delegates and other experts, representing 17 HCCH Members and eight Observers, in addition to members of the Permanent Bureau of the HCCH. Pursuant to its mandate, the EG made further progress on the study of the private international law...
Launch of public consultation on a possible new convention
The Permanent Bureau of the HCCH is pleased to announce the launch of a public consultation on the Draft Text of a possible new convention on parallel proceedings and related actions, to be held from 18 November 2025 to 26 January 2026. Experts, practitioners and judges from diverse legal traditions with experience in cross-border litigation and private international law more broadly are...
Registration open - Book Launch: The Hague Convention on Choice of Court Agreements: A Commentary
The Permanent Bureau (PB) of the HCCH is pleased to announce that registration is now open for the book launch celebrating the publication of The Hague Convention on Choice of Court Agreements: A Commentary, to be held in hybrid format on 11 December 2025 from 1:30 p.m. to 4:45 p.m. (CET), with online participation open to the public. The book launch will coincide with the tenth anniversary of...
Algeria accedes to the 1961 Apostille Convention
Today, 5 November 2025, the People’s Democratic Republic of Algeria deposited its instrument of accession to the Convention of 5 October 1961 Abolishing the Requirement of Legalisation for Foreign Public Documents (1961 Apostille Convention). At the ceremony, held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands, depositary of the HCCH Conventions, Algeria was represented by H.E. Ms...
Second Forum on Domestic Violence and the 1980 Child Abduction Convention – with a focus on the Operation of Article 13(1)(b)
From 27 to 30 October 2025, the HCCH and the Government of Brazil co-hosted the Second Forum on Domestic Violence and the 1980 Child Abduction Convention – with a focus on the Operation of Article 13(1)(b) (see Conclusion and Decision No 26 of CGAP 2025) in Fortaleza. The Forum had almost 500 registered participants, of which over 150 in person, representing HCCH Members, non-Member...