El Salvador accedes to the Evidence Convention
Today, 19 January 2023, the Republic of El Salvador deposited its instrument of accession to the Convention of 18 March 1970 on the Taking of Evidence Abroad in Civil or Commercial Matters (1970 Evidence Convention). The ceremony was held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands, the Depositary of the HCCH Conventions. El Salvador was represented by H.E. Ms Carmen María...
Publication of the Second Edition of the Practical Handbook on the Operation of the Apostille Convention
The Permanent Bureau is pleased to announce the publication of the second edition of the Practical Handbook on the Operation of the Apostille Convention (Apostille Handbook). The Apostille Handbook, first published in 2013, provides guidance on the practical implementation and operation of the 1961 Apostille Convention, applied tens of millions of times every year to the benefit of individuals,...
Child Abduction Convention enters into force for Cabo Verde
On 1 January 2023, the Convention of 25 October 1980 on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction (1980 Child Abduction Convention) entered into force for Cabo Verde following the deposit of its instrument of accession on 4 October 2022. The 1980 Child Abduction Convention currently has 103 Contracting Parties. More information on this Convention is available on the Child Abduction...
Publication of the Practitioners’ Tool: Cross-Border Recognition and Enforcement of Agreements Reached in the Course of Family Matters Involving Children
The Permanent Bureau is pleased to announce the publication of the Practitioners’ Tool: Cross-Border Recognition and Enforcement of Agreements Reached in the Course of Family Matters Involving Children (Practitioners’ Tool). The Practitioners’ Tool aims to explain how agreements made in the area of family law involving children (“family agreements”) can be made...
10th Anniversary of the HCCH Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific
Today, 13 December 2022, marks the 10th anniversary of the establishment of the HCCH Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific (ROAP). With the endorsement of the HCCH Council on General Affairs and Policy, ROAP officially opened on 13 December 2012, thanks to the generous support of the Governments of the People’s Republic of China and Australia. Since then, ROAP has developed into a...
Apostille Convention enters into force for Saudi Arabia
Today, 7 December 2022, the Convention of 5 October 1961 Abolishing the Requirement of Legalisation for Foreign Public Documents (1961 Apostille Convention) entered into force for Saudi Arabia following the deposit of its instrument of accession on 8 April 2022. The 1961 Apostille Convention currently has 124 Contracting Parties. More information on this Convention is...
2007 Maintenance Obligations Protocol enters into force for Ukraine
Today, 1 December 2022, the Protocol of 23 November 2007 on the Law Applicable to Maintenance Obligations (Maintenance Obligations Protocol) entered into force for Ukraine, following the deposit of its instrument of ratification on 29 August 2022. At present, 31 States and the European Union are bound by the Maintenance Obligations Protocol. More information on this instrument is available on the...
15th Anniversary of the 2007 Child Support Convention and its Protocol
Today, 23 November 2022, marks the 15th anniversary of the Convention of 23 November 2007 on the International Recovery of Child Support and Other Forms of Family Maintenance (HCCH 2007 Child Support Convention) and the Protocol of 23 November 2007 on the Law Applicable to Maintenance Obligations (HCCH 2007 Maintenance Obligations Protocol), following their adoption at the Twenty-First Session of...
First Meeting of the Special Commission on the Practical Operation of the 2000 Protection of Adults Convention
From 9 to 11 November 2022, the First Meeting of the Special Commission (SC) on the Practical Operation of the 2000 Protection of Adults Convention was held in The Hague. The meeting was attended by over 100 participants, in person and via videoconference, representing Contracting Parties, HCCH Members, and Observers from intergovernmental and international non-governmental organisations, as well...
Botswana accedes to the Child Abduction, Adoption and Child Support Conventions
Today, 14 November 2022, the Republic of Botswana deposited its instrument of accession to the Convention of 25 October 1980 on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction (Child Abduction Convention), the Convention of 29 May 1993 on Protection of Children and Co-operation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption (Adoption Convention), and the Convention of 23 November 2007 on the International...