Council on General Affairs and Policy
The Council on General Affairs and Policy (CGAP) met from 5 to 8 March 2019, with record attendance, representing 70 Members (including one Member REIO (EU)), 3 non-Member States, and other Observers from 3 IGOs / 9 NGOs. CGAP reviewed the work of the HCCH carried out since the last meeting in 2018 and charted the course for future work. Amongst others, CGAP welcomed the advice of the...
Honduras signs and ratifies the Intercountry Adoption Convention and requests Membership in the HCCH
On 6 March 2019, Dr Lolis María Salas Montes, Executive Director of the Directorate for Children, Adolescents and Family (DINAF), signed and ratified on behalf of the Republic of Honduras the HCCH Convention of 29 May 1993 on the Protection of Children and Co-operation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption (Intercountry Adoption Convention). With the signature and ratification of Honduras,...
Guyana accedes to the Intercountry Adoption Convention and the Child Support Convention
On 6 March 2019, during the meeting of the Council on General Affairs and Policy, the Depositary informed Council that on 5 February 2019, Guyana had deposited its instrument of accession to the HCCH Convention of 29 May 1993 on the Protection of Children and Co-operation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption (Intercountry Adoption Convention), making it the 100th Contracting Party to the...
Nicaragua accedes to the 1970 Evidence and 1996 Child Protection Conventions
On 27 February 2019, Nicaragua deposited its instrument of accession to the HCCH Convention of 18 March 1970 on the Taking of Evidence Abroad in Civil or Commercial Matters (“Evidence Convention”). The Evidence Convention, which now has 62 Contracting Parties, will enter into force for Nicaragua on 28 April 2019. On the same day, Nicaragua also deposited its instrument of accession to...
Annual Report of the HCCH 2018
The Permanent Bureau of the HCCH is pleased to announce the publication of the 2018 Annual Report. Paper copies of the Annual Report can be ordered here....
Following Guyana’s accessions, Child Abduction and Child Protection Conventions have 100 and 50 Contracting Parties respectively
On 5 February 2019, Guyana deposited its instrument of accession to the HCCH Convention of 25 October 1980 on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction (“Child Abduction Convention”), making it the 100th Contracting Party to the Convention. The Child Abduction Convention will enter into force for Guyana on 1 May 2019. This is a significant development and milestone as the...
Fifth meeting of the Experts’ Group on Parentage / Surrogacy
From 29 January to 1 February 2019, the Experts’ Group on Parentage / Surrogacy met for the fifth time in The Hague. The meeting was attended by 21 Experts from different States, three observers and members of the Permanent Bureau. The mandate of the Group is “to explore the feasibility of advancing work (…) on the private...
Vulnerable adults – An important step forward
Approximately 130 experts from more than 35 States representing all continents gathered from 5 to 7 December 2018 in Brussels, Belgium, to discuss "Cross-border Protection of Vulnerable Adults" in a conference organised jointly by the European Commission and the HCCH. Experts stressed the practical importance of the topic. Discussions included current needs of vulnerable adults in...
Child Abduction Convention enters into force for Cuba
On 1 December 2018, the Convention of 25 October 1980 on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction (“Child Abduction Convention”) entered into force for Cuba, following the deposit of its instrument of accession on 12 September 2018. The Child Abduction Convention currently has 99 Contracting Parties. In addition to the Child Abduction Convention, Cuba is a Contracting Party...
Trusts Convention enters into force for Panama
On 1 December 2018, the Convention of 1 July 1985 on the Law Applicable to Trusts and on their Recognition (“Trusts Convention”) entered into force for Panama, following the deposit of its instrument of accession on 30 August 2017. The Trusts Convention currently has 14 Contracting Parties. Panama has been a Member of the HCCH since...