Conference “15 Years of the HCCH Washington Declaration: Progress and Perspectives on International Family Relocation”
From 2 to 4 April 2025, the conference “15 Years of the HCCH Washington Declaration: Progress and Perspectives on International Family Relocation” was held at the Embassy of Canada in Washington, D.C., United States of America. The conference was jointly organised by the Embassy of Canada, the International Academy of Family Lawyers (IAFL), and the HCCH. This conference took place...
Sixth Meeting of the Working Group established to complete the Country Profile and work on the draft Cooperation Request Recommended Model Form for the 1996 Child Protection Convention
On 19 March 2025, the sixth meeting of the Working Group (WG) established to complete the Country Profile and work on the draft Cooperation Request Recommended Model Form for the 1996 Child Protection Convention was held online, hosted by the Permanent Bureau (PB) in The Hague. The meeting was attended by 21 delegates representing 12 HCCH Members, as well as by members of the PB. During the...
Regional Workshop on Intercountry Adoption: Sharing Experiences on the Effective Implementation of the 1993 Adoption Convention in Asia
From 11 to 13 March 2025, the Regional Workshop on Intercountry Adoption: Sharing Experiences on the Effective Implementation of the 1993 Adoption Convention in Asia (Regional Workshop) was held in Manila (Philippines). It was attended by 72 participants representing eight Contracting Parties to the 1993 Adoption Convention, two non-Contracting Parties, one intergovernmental organisation, and one...
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...
Meeting of the Working Party on Mediation
On 24 January 2025, the Working Party on Cross-Border Family Mediation in the Context of the Malta Process (Working Party) met online. The meeting was attended by 23 participants representing 13 HCCH Members and two Observer States, as well as by members of the Permanent Bureau of the HCCH. During the meeting, participants discussed the future trajectory of the Working Party, taking into...
Importance of the work of the HCCH and the PCA for francophone Africa
On 10 January, representatives from nineteen French-speaking African States, along with a delegate from the Organisation internationale de la Francophonie (OIF), convened in Brussels for a meeting organised by Belgium, France, and Switzerland. The agenda focused on exploring the benefits of membership in the HCCH and the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA). The Belgian Minister of Foreign...
Informal brainstorming session on future meetings of the Special Commission on the 1980 Child Abduction and 1996 Child Protection Conventions
From 18 to 21 November 2024, an informal brainstorming session on future meetings of the Special Commission (SC) on the 1980 Child Abduction and 1996 Child Protection Conventions was held online, hosted by the Permanent Bureau (PB) in The Hague. It was attended by over 80 participants representing 29 Members, as well as by members of the PB. As mandated by the Council on General Affairs and...
Regional Workshop on Intercountry Adoption: Sharing Experiences on the Effective Implementation of the 1993 Adoption Convention in Africa
From 13 to 15 November 2024, the Regional Workshop on Intercountry Adoption: Sharing Experiences on the Effective Implementation of the 1993 Adoption Convention in Africa (Regional Workshop) was held in Lomé (Togo). It was attended by approximately 60 participants representing 11 Contracting Parties to the 1993 Adoption Convention, one non-Contracting Party, one intergovernmental...
Second Working Meeting of the Experts’ Group on Central Bank Digital Currencies
From 12 to 14 November 2024, the Experts’ Group (EG) on Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs) held its second working meeting. The meeting was held online, hosted by the Permanent Bureau (PB) in The Hague. It was attended by 25 delegates and other experts, representing 10 HCCH Members and 3 Observers, as well as by members of the PB of the HCCH. Pursuant to its mandate (C&Ds No 9-10...
Seventh Meeting of the Working Group on Jurisdiction
From 28 October to 1 November 2024, the Working Group (WG) on Matters Related to Jurisdiction in Transnational Civil or Commercial Litigation met for the seventh time. The meeting was held in person in Tokyo (Japan) with the possibility for online participation, in accordance with the mandate of the Council on General Affairs and Policy (C&Ds No 4-5). It was attended by 66 delegates and other...