Apostille Convention enters into force for Palau
On 23 June 2020, the Convention of 5 October 1961 Abolishing the Requirement of Legalisation for Foreign Public Documents (Apostille Convention) entered into force for Palau following the deposit of its instrument of accession on 17 October 2019. The Apostille Convention currently has 118 Contracting Parties. Palau is not a Member of the HCCH yet, and this is the first HCCH Convention that Palau...
HCCH COVID-19 Toolkit
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic and to follow the recent video message of the Secretary General, the Permanent Bureau (PB) has developed a Toolkit. This COVID-19 Toolkit compiles references to specific HCCH resources and publications which are particularly relevant in light of the current global situation. It is designed to assist users of the HCCH Conventions and other instruments in these...
Video Message from the Secretary General: COVID-19
Please click here for a message from the Secretary General, in both English and French, in relation to COVID-19....
The Evidence Convention enters into force for Viet Nam
On 3 May 2020, the Convention of 18 March 1970 on the Taking of Evidence Abroad in Civil or Commercial Matters entered into force for Viet Nam following the deposit of its instrument of accession on 4 March 2020. The Evidence Convention currently has 63 Contracting Parties. Viet Nam is a Member of the HCCH (since 2013) and currently party to three other Conventions. More information is...
Child Protection Convention enters into force for Barbados
On 1 May 2020, the Convention of 19 October 1996 on Jurisdiction, Applicable Law, Recognition, Enforcement and Co-operation in Respect of Parental Responsibility and Measures for the Protection of Children entered into force for Barbados, following the deposit of its instrument of accession on 11 July 2019. The 1996 Child Protection Convention currently has 52 Contracting Parties. While Barbados...
2007 Child Support Convention enters into force for Nicaragua
On 18 April 2020, the Convention of 23 November 2007 on the International Recovery of Child Support and other Forms of Family Maintenance (“Child Support Convention”) enters into force for Nicaragua, following the deposit of its instrument of accession on 8 March 2019. The 2007 Child Support Convention currently has 41 Contracting Parties (incl. REIOs and States bound as a result of...
Guide on Use of Video-Link under Evidence Convention
The Permanent Bureau (PB) is pleased to announce that the Guide to Good Practice on the Use of Video-Link under the 1970 Evidence Convention has been published in English and French. An electronic version is available for download on the Evidence Section of the HCCH website. This Guide to Good Practice comes at a timely moment in which information technology has proven to be an essential tool....
Adoption Convention enters into force for the Republic of the Congo
On 1 April 2020, the Convention of 29 May 1993 on the Protection of Children and Co-operation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption (hereinafter the “Adoption Convention”) entered into force for the Republic of the Congo, following the deposit of its instrument of accession on 11 December 2019. The Adoption Convention currently has 102 Contracting Parties. The...
Council on General Affairs and Policy – Conclusions & Decisions
The Council on General Affairs and Policy (CGAP) met from 3 to 6 March 2020 – the Conclusions & Decisions it adopted are now available in English and French. The projects on normative work include two further meetings of the Experts’ Group on Jurisdiction before CGAP 2021, the continuation of the Parentage / Surrogacy Project and the Tourists and Visitors Project,...
Publication of the Guide to Good Practice under the Child Abduction Convention: Part VI – Article 13(1)(b)
The Permanent Bureau (PB) of the HCCH is pleased to announce that, following on its approval by the HCCH Members on 12 December 2019, the Guide to Good Practice under the HCCH Convention of 25 October 1980 on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction – Part VI – Article 13(1)(b) has been published in English and French. An electronic version is available for download on the...