1996 Child Protection Convention enters into force for Argentina
On 1 January 2026, the 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 (1996 Child Protection Convention) entered into force for the Argentine Republic following the deposit of its instrument of ratification on 18 September 2025. The 1996 Child Protection...
1996 Child Protection Convention enters into force for the Republic of Moldova
On 1 January 2026, the 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 (1996 Child Protection Convention) entered into force for the Republic of Moldova following the deposit of its instrument of accession on 11 March 2025. The 1996 Child Protection Convention...
New e-Country Profiles for key HCCH Conventions now available
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...
Publication of Vol. XXVII of the Judges' Newsletter on International Child Protection
The Permanent Bureau (PB) is pleased to announce the publication of Vol. XXVII / Spring-Summer 2025 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...
1996 Child Protection Convention enters into force for Belize
On 1 October 2025, the 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 (1996 Child Protection Convention) entered into force for Belize following the deposit of its instrument of accession on 12 December 2024. The 1996 Child Protection Convention has 58...
Argentina ratifies the 1996 Child Protection Convention
Today, 18 September 2025, the Argentine Republic deposited its instrument of ratification of the 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 (1996 Child Protection Convention). At the ceremony, held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands,...
Roundtable and Training on the application of the 1980 Child Abduction and 1996 Child Protection Conventions, in particular concerning the children of Ukraine
On 11 and 12 September 2025, the Permanent Bureau (PB) of the HCCH hosted a Roundtable and Training on the application of the 1980 Child Abduction and 1996 Child Protection Conventions, in particular concerning the children of Ukraine. The event, held in hybrid format, had close to 85 registered participants, representing 25 HCCH Members and three Observers, in addition to members of the PB. The...
1996 Child Protection Convention enters into force for El Salvador
On 1 July 2025, the 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 (1996 Child Protection Convention) entered into force for the Republic of El Salvador following the deposit of its instrument of accession on 10 September 2024. The 1996 Child Protection...
Meeting of the Working Party on Mediation
On 13 June 2025, the Working Party on Cross-Border Family Mediation in the Context of the Malta Process (Working Party on Mediation) met online. The meeting was attended by over 30 participants representing 13 HCCH Members and 1 Observer State, three independent experts as well as by members of the Permanent Bureau of the HCCH. During the meeting, the independent experts made presentations...