Ukraine accedes to the 1980 Access to Justice Convention
On 21 May 2026, Ukraine deposited its instrument of accession to the Convention of 25 October 1980 on International Access to Justice (1980 Access to Justice Convention). At the ceremony, held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands, depositary of the HCCH Conventions, Ukraine was represented by H.E. Mr Andriy Kostin, Ambassador to the Netherlands, and Ms Mariia Bezdieniezhna, Legal...
Sixth Meeting of the Working Group on the Financial Aspects of Intercountry Adoption
On 21 May 2026, the sixth meeting of the Working Group (WG) on the Financial Aspects of Intercountry Adoption was held online, hosted by the Permanent Bureau (PB). The meeting had around 35 registered delegates and other experts, representing 16 HCCH Members, three Observer non-Member Contracting Parties, and three Observer organisations, in addition to Members of the PB. Pursuant to its mandate,...
14th International Forum on the electronic Apostille Programme (e-APP)
On 12 and 13 May 2026, the 14th International Forum on the electronic Apostille Programme (e-APP) took place in Marrakech, Morocco. Marking the 20th anniversary of the e-APP, the Forum was also the first edition ever held in Africa. It was organised by the HCCH Regional Office for Africa, with the support of the Ministry of Justice of Morocco. Held in a hybrid format, the Forum brought together...
Third meeting of the WG on Article 33 of the 1996 Child Protection Convention
On 13 May 2026, the third meeting of the Working Group (WG) on the operation of Article 33 of the 1996 Child Protection Convention was held online, hosted by the Permanent Bureau (PB). The meeting had close to 65 registered delegates and other experts, representing 31 HCCH Members, two Observer non-Member Contracting Parties and one Observer organisation, in addition to members of the PB. ...
Meeting of the Working Party on Mediation
On 12 May 2026, the Working Party on Cross-Border Family Mediation in the Context of the Malta Process (Working Party on Mediation) met online. The meeting had 25 registered participants, representing 13 HCCH Members and one Observer non-Member Contracting Party to the 1980 Child Abduction Convention, in addition to members of the Permanent Bureau of the HCCH. During the meeting,...
Third Meeting of the Experts’ Group on Digital Tokens
From 28 April to 1 May 2026, the Experts’ Group (EG) on Digital Tokens met for the third time. The meeting, held in hybrid format, had over 55 registered delegates and other experts, representing 18 HCCH Members and nine Observers, in addition to members of the Permanent Bureau of the HCCH. Pursuant to its mandate, the EG made further progress on the study of the private international law...
Fifth Meeting of the Working Group on the Financial Aspects of Intercountry Adoption
On 23 April 2026, the fifth meeting of the Working Group (WG) on the Financial Aspects of Intercountry Adoption was held online, hosted by the Permanent Bureau (PB). The meeting had over 30 registered delegates and other experts, representing 16 HCCH Members, three Observer non-Member Contracting Parties, and three Observer organisations, in addition to Members of the PB. Pursuant to its mandate,...
Second meeting of the WG on Article 33 of the 1996 Child Protection Convention
On 22 April 2026, the second meeting of the Working Group (WG) on the operation of Article 33 of the 1996 Child Protection Convention was held online, hosted by the Permanent Bureau (PB). The meeting had close to 65 registered delegates and other experts, representing 31 HCCH Members, two Observer non-Member Contracting Parties and one Observer organisation, in addition to members of the PB. ...
High-Level Conference on the Universalisation of the PCA and the HCCH
From 15 to 17 April 2026, the High-Level Conference on the Universalisation of the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) and the Hague Conference on Private International Law (HCCH) was held in Dakar (Senegal). It brought together over 65 participants representing 17 States and five intergovernmental organisations, including the Secretaries General of the two organisations. The conference convened...
First meeting of the WG on Article 33 of the 1996 Child Protection Convention
In March 2024, the Council on General Affairs and Policy (CGAP) mandated the establishment of a Working Group (WG) on the operation of Article 33 of the 1996 Child Protection Convention, first, to develop a Model Form and, subsequently, a Guide on the application of Article 33 (see C&D No 26 of CGAP 2024). The first meeting of the WG was held online on 8 April 2026, hosted by the Permanent...