The Hague Prize for International Law awarded to Professor Paul Lagarde
On 21st September 2011, Prof. Paul Lagarde was awarded the Hague Prize for International Law.* This award was established in 2002 to reflect the special position of the city of The Hague as "City of Peace and Justice". The foundations for this special position were first laid almost 120 years ago with the organisation of the first diplomatic session of the Hague Conference on Private...
Board of Directors of the National Child Support Enforcement Association adopts a resolution honouring former Deputy Secretary General Professor William Duncan
On 27 June 2011, the Board of Directors of the National Child Support Enforcement Association adopted a resolution honouring former Deputy Secretary General Professor William Duncan for his extraordinary effort, guidance and contribution in the advancement of international child maintenance efforts in general and the successful negotiation of the Hague Convention of 23 November 2007 on the...
First Gulf Judicial Seminar on Cross-Frontier Legal Co-operation in Civil and Commercial Matters, Qatar, Doha – 20 to 22 June 2011
First Gulf Judicial Seminar on Cross-Frontier Legal Co-operation in Civil and Commercial Matters From 20 to 22 June 2011, approximately 80 participants from Member States of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) – Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Oman (Bahrain was excused) – including Ministry officials, academics, professionals, as well as members of the...
The Secretary General addresses the Council of Europe's Committee of Legal Advisers on Public International Law
At the 41st meeting of the Committee of Legal Advisers on Public International Law of the Council of Europe, held in Strasbourg on 17-18 March 2011, the Secretary General of the Hague Conference made a statement on the interaction between recent case-law of the European Court of Human Rights and the Hague Convention of 25 October 1980 on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction. For...
The Secretary General participates in the first Petersburg International Legal Forum
From May 19-21, 2011, Secretary General Hans van Loon took part in the first International Legal Forum in St Petersburg. Invited by the Government of the Russian Federation, he spoke on May 19, at the Plenary Session, moderated by former Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder (please click here to read the Secretary General's speech). The plenary session was opened by President Dmitry...
Mexico Inter-American Meeting
Mexico Inter-American Meeting of International Hague Network Judges and Central Authorities on International Child Abduction (Mexico, 23-25 February 2011) Purpose of the Meeting The meeting was organized to discuss how to improve, among the countries represented, the operation of the Hague Convention of 25 October 1980 on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction (the 1980 Hague Child...
Cross-frontier surrogacy issues added to Hague Conference work programme
PRESS RELEASE Cross-Frontier Surrogacy Issues Added to Hague Conference Work Programme On Thursday, 7 April 2011, the Hague Conference on Private International Law's Council on General Affairs and Policy invited its Permanent Bureau to intensify its work on the broad range of issues arising from international surrogacy arrangements. International surrogacy cases often involve...
Several States join Hague Conventions during Council on general affairs and policy
PRESS RELEASE During the Hague Conference on Private International Law's annual meeting of its Council on General Affairs and Policy (5-7 April 2011), the European Union, Norway, Andorra and Costa Rica will each join one or more of the Hague Conventions. On behalf of the European Union, the Hungarian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Justice & Public Administration, H.E. Dr. Tibor...
Finnish-Russian Expert Conference on International Child and Family Law
On Wednesday 23 March 2011, a Finnish-Russian Expert Conference was held in Helsinki to discuss questions related to international child and family law. The Permanent Bureau was invited to participate in this meeting and was represented by Deputy Secretary General William Duncan. In the discussions, emphasis was laid on the central principles of the United Nations Convention...
Publication of the Spanish version of the Guide to Good Practice under the Child Abduction Convention: Part IV - Enforcement
It is with great pleasure that the Permanent Bureau of the Hague Conference on Private International Law announces the publication of the Spanish version of Part IV of the Guide to Good Practice under the Hague Convention of 25 October 1980 on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction - Enforcement. This Guide is based upon the principles of good practice presented to, and...