CGAP 2023 – Appointment of HCCH Secretary General
The Council on General Affairs and Policy (CGAP) has decided to recommend Dr Christophe Bernasconi to the Netherlands Standing Government Committee on Private International Law for the position of Secretary General. The Members of the HCCH warmly congratulated Dr Bernasconi on his recommendation for reappointment. Following the meeting, the Chair of CGAP will advise the Netherlands Standing...
CGAP 2023 – New accessions and ratifications
On 8 March 2023, the Council on General Affairs and Policy (CGAP) of the HCCH witnessed China accede to the Convention of 5 October 1961 Abolishing the Requirement of Legalisation for Foreign Public Documents (1961 Apostille Convention) and Malta ratify the Convention of 13 January 2000 on the International Protection of Adults (2000 Protection of Adults Convention). H.E. Mr Jian Tan, Ambassador...
Apostille Convention enters into force for Pakistan
On 9 March 2023, the Convention of 5 October 1961 Abolishing the Requirement of Legalisation for Foreign Public Documents (1961 Apostille Convention) entered into force for the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, following the deposit of its instrument of accession on 8 July 2022. The 1961 Apostille Convention currently has 124 Contracting Parties. More information on this Convention is available...
Publication of the HCCH 2022 Annual Report
The Permanent Bureau is pleased to announce the publication of the HCCH 2022 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’ Groups, three Working Groups, and three Special Commissions, the latter tasked with reviewing the practical...
Publication of the Practical Guide to Access to Justice for International Tourists and Visitors
The Permanent Bureau is pleased to announce the publication of the Practical Guide to Access to Justice for International Tourists and Visitors. The Practical Guide is intended to assist international tourists and visitors to foreign countries seeking access to justice for disputes arising from their tourism experience by providing information on online dispute resolution (ODR) mechanisms that...
Adoption Convention enters into force for Botswana
Today, 1 March 2023, the Convention of 29 May 1993 on Protection of Children and Co-operation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption (1993 Adoption Convention) entered into force for the Republic of Botswana following the deposit of its instrument of accession on 14 November 2022. The 1993 Adoption Convention currently has 105 Contracting Parties. More information on this Convention is...
Azerbaijan accedes to the Service Convention and Child Support Convention
The Permanent Bureau has been informed that on 17 February 2023 the Republic of Azerbaijan deposited its instrument of accession to the Convention of 15 November 1965 on the Service Abroad of Judicial and Extrajudicial Documents in Civil or Commercial Matters (1965 Service Convention) and the Convention of 23 November 2007 on the International Recovery of Child Support and Other Forms of Family...
Fourth Meeting of the Working Group on Jurisdiction
From 13 to 17 February 2023, the Working Group on Matters Related to Jurisdiction in Transnational Civil or Commercial Litigation met for the fourth time. The meeting, held in hybrid format, was attended by 70 experts in total, of which 24 attended in person. The experts represented 24 Members and two Observers. Several staff members of the Permanent Bureau of the HCCH also attended the...
Fourth Meeting of the International Transfer of Maintenance Funds Experts’ Group
From 13 to 15 February 2023, the International Transfer of Maintenance Funds Experts’ Group (ITMFEG) met for the fourth time. The meeting, held online, was attended by 60 experts, representing 24 HCCH Members, one Observer as well as members of the Permanent Bureau. Pursuant to its mandate, the EG continued its work discussing good practices in relation to the cross-border...
Regional Conference – “The HCCH and the Relevance of its Work for Southern Africa”
On 7 and 8 February 2023, the Permanent Bureau of the HCCH has the pleasure of co-organising the Regional Conference “The HCCH and the relevance of its work for Southern Africa”, together with Finland and South Africa, with the participation of Namibia and Tanzania, as well as other Southern African Development Community (SADC) States, and hosted by the University of Pretoria (South...