HCCH|Approach Initiative – Celebrating the 25th Anniversary of the 1996 Child Protection Convention

To celebrate the 25th anniversary of the HCCH 1996 Child Protection Convention, the HCCH is pleased to announce the launch of the Advancing and Promoting the Protection of All Children (Approach) Initiative. The HCCH|Approach Initiative will consist of a series of activities and events culminating in the HCCH|Approach Event, to be held online on Tuesday 19 October 2021. Information on registration and the programme of the HCCH|Approach Event will be made available in due course.

Leading up to the HCCH|Approach Event, the Permanent Bureau of the HCCH is organising two competitions: The HCCH|Approach Essay Competition, and the HCCH|Approach Media and Design Competition.

HCCH|Approach Essay Competition

The inaugural HCCH|Approach Essay Competition is open to all legal professionals, law students, and law academics or researchers under the age of 35 (as at 19 October 2021).

Entrants are invited to author an essay in English of 1,500-2,000 words (excluding footnotes and references) examining any legal issue within the scope of the HCCH 1996 Child Protection Convention. Submissions must be the entrant’s original work. Previously published works will not be considered. Entries should be sent in PDF format to secretariat@hcch.net with “HCCH|Approach Essay Competition” in the subject field no later than 5.00 p.m. (CEST) on Friday 1 October 2021.

The top three finalists, chosen by an international panel of expert judges, will be requested to present their winning entry in a pre-recorded 10-minute presentation which will be streamed live during the international HCCH|Approach Event on 19 October 2021. The winner of the HCCH|Approach Essay Competition will be announced during the HCCH|Approach Event.

Prize winners (first prize € 1,000, second prize € 500 and third prize € 250) will be offered the opportunity to publish their winning entries in the post-event HCCH|Approach publication. Other forms of publication may also be proposed.

HCCH|Approach Media and Design Competition

The inaugural HCCH|Approach Media and Design Competition is open to all arts, (multi)media, graphic, or design professionals or students.

Entrants are invited to create an audio, visual, graphic or other representation of the protection of children across borders in general, or on any aspect of the HCCH 1996 Child Protection Convention in particular. There is no restriction on the medium of the submission, which can include original pieces of music, artwork, graphics, videos, cartoons, posters, or animation. Entrants will be judged on originality, clarity, ability to engage a wide audience, and relevance to the HCCH 1996 Child Protection Convention.

Submissions must be the entrant’s original work. Works previously published or broadcast will not be considered. Entries should be sent to secretariat@hcch.net with “HCCH|Approach Media and Design Competition” in the subject field no later than 5.00 p.m. (CEST) on Friday 1 October 2021. All received submissions shall become the property of the HCCH.

Submissions will be broadcast online during the international HCCH|Approach Event on 19 October 2021. The winner of the HCCH|Approach Media and Design Competition, chosen by an international panel of expert judges, will be announced during the HCCH|Approach Event.

Prize winners (first prize € 1,000, second prize € 500 and third prize € 250) will be offered the opportunity to publish their winning entries.

More information on the HCCH|Approach Initiative is available in the Child Protection Section of the HCCH website.