Georgia signs the Child Support Convention and its Protocol

Yesterday, 25 May 2023, H.E. Mr Rati Bregadze, Minister of Justice, signed, on behalf of Georgia, the Convention of 23 November 2007 on the International Recovery of Child Support and Other Forms of Family Maintenance (2007 Child Support Convention) and the Protocol of 23 November 2007 on the Law Applicable to Maintenance Obligations (2007 Maintenance Obligations Protocol).

At the ceremony, which took place at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands, depositary of the HCCH Conventions, Minister Bregadze was accompanied by H.E. Mr David Solomonia, Ambassador of Georgia to the Netherlands, Mr Beka Dzamashvili, Deputy Minister of Justice, Ms Nato Giorgadze, Head of the Public Relations Department of the Ministry of Justice, Mr Nika Berelidze, Head of the Protocol Unit of the Ministry of Justice, Mr Shota Kiladze, Cameraman at the Ministry of Justice, and Mr Giorgi Nakashidze, Senior Counsellor at the Embassy of Georgia in the Netherlands.

The depositary was represented by Ms Pauline Muntinga, Deputy Head of the Treaties Division, Mr Stephan Hessels, Legal Officer, Mr Onno Dickhoff, Legal Officer, and Mr Alexander Akerboom, Desk Officer at the Europe Department, while the Permanent Bureau of the HCCH was represented by Mr Philippe Lortie, First Secretary, and Mr Jean-Marc Pellet, iSupport Coordinator.

Following the ceremony, the Georgian delegation visited the premises of the Permanent Bureau of the HCCH, where they met with Mr Lortie and Mr Pellet to discuss the work programme of the Organisation and how Georgia could be involved and contribute to its further development.

The 2007 Child Support Convention and the 2007 Maintenance Obligations Protocol will enter into force for Georgia further to the deposit of instruments of ratification. At present, 46 States and the European Union are bound by the Convention, while 31 States and the European Union are bound by the Protocol. More information on these instruments is available on the Child Support Section of the HCCH website.

Georgia has been a Member of the HCCH since 2001 and is currently a Contracting Party to six HCCH Conventions.