Bahrain accedes to the 1970 Evidence and 2005 Choice of Court Conventions
The Permanent Bureau has been notified that, on 13 March 2025, the Kingdom of Bahrain deposited its instruments of accession to the Convention of 18 March 1970 on the Taking of Evidence Abroad in Civil or Commercial Matters (1970 Evidence Convention) and to the Convention of 30 June 2005 on Choice of Court Agreements (2005 Choice of Court Convention). With the accession of Bahrain, the 1970...
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...
CGAP 2025 — New Members, ratifications, and signatures
On 5 March 2025, the Council on General Affairs and Policy (CGAP) of the HCCH welcomed the Republic of Rwanda as a new Member of the Organisation. It also witnessed the Republic of Guatemala apply for Membership, the Republic of Costa Rica sign the Convention of 30 June 2005 on Choice of Court Agreements (2005 Choice of Court Convention), and the Republic of Colombia join the Convention of 23...
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...
2005 Choice of Court Convention enters into force for North Macedonia
On 1 March 2025, the Convention of 30 June 2005 on Choice of Court Agreements (2005 Choice of Court Convention) entered into force for the Republic of North Macedonia following the deposit of its instrument of accession on 21 November 2024. At present, 36 States and the European Union are bound by the 2005 Choice of Court Convention. More information on this Convention is available on the...
Montenegro ratifies the 2019 Judgments Convention
The Permanent Bureau has been notified that, on 21 February 2025, Montenegro deposited its instrument of ratification of the Convention of 2 July 2019 on the Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Judgments in Civil or Commercial Matters (2019 Judgments Convention). With the ratification of Montenegro, 32 HCCH Members are either bound by the 2019 Judgments Convention or a Contracting Party for...
Albania ratifies the 2019 Judgments Convention
The Permanent Bureau has been notified that, on 13 February 2025, the Republic of Albania deposited its instrument of ratification of the Convention of 2 July 2019 on the Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Judgments in Civil or Commercial Matters (2019 Judgments Convention). With the ratification of Albania, 31 HCCH Members are either bound by the 2019 Judgments Convention or a Contracting...
Eighth Meeting of the Working Group on Jurisdiction
From 10 to 14 February 2025, the Working Group (WG) on Matters Related to Jurisdiction in Transnational Civil or Commercial Litigation met for the eighth time. The meeting, held in hybrid format, was attended by 67 delegates and other experts, representing 23 HCCH Members and 2 Observers, as well as by members of the Permanent Bureau of the HCCH. Pursuant to its mandate, the WG made further...
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...
El Salvador accedes to the 2007 Child Support Convention
On 6 February 2025, the Republic of El Salvador deposited its instrument of accession to the Convention of 23 November 2007 on the International Recovery of Child Support and Other Forms of Family Maintenance (2007 Child Support Convention). With the accession of El Salvador, 53 States and the European Union are bound by the 2007 Child Support Convention. It will enter into force for El Salvador...