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 Roundtable and Training provided participants with an opportunity to deepen their understanding of the content and structure of the 1980 Child Abduction and the 1996 Child Protection Conventions, with a view to supporting their effective implementation and operation in their respective jurisdictions. Over the course of two days, participants discussed good practices in relation to the 1980 Child Abduction and the 1996 Child Protection Conventions in the context of children internationally displaced from Ukraine. They also familiarised themselves with the tools developed by the HCCH to assist with the implementation of the 1996 Child Protection Convention in the context of children internationally displaced from their State of origin. In addition, the Roundtable and Training provided an overview of tools developed by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) pertaining to the safe return of children to their State of origin. Finally, participants learned about the work of the Council of Europe Consultation Group on the Children of Ukraine.
More information on the 1980 Child Abduction and 1996 Child Protection Conventions is available on the Child Abduction and Child Protection Sections of the HCCH website.