Jamaica joins Child Abduction Convention - 150th State connected to HCCH

On 24 February 2017, Jamaica deposited its instrument of accession to the Hague Convention of 25 October 1980 on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction and thus became the 97th Contracting State to that Convention. The Convention will enter into force for Jamaica on 1 May 2017. Jamaica has also designated a judge to the International Hague Network of Judges (IHNJ) specialised in cross-border child protection and family law.

Jamaica is not a Member of the HCCH yet, and the 1980 Child Abduction Convention is the first Hague Convention that Jamaica has joined. Jamaica has thus become the 150th State to be connected to the HCCH. This shows that the Organisation continues to make good progress on its path towards universality, a central tenet of its operational strategy.