Eighth Meeting of the Special Commission on the Practical Operation of the 1980 Child Abduction Convention and the 1996 Child Protection Convention

From 10 to 17 October 2023, the Eighth Meeting of the Special Commission (SC) on the Practical Operation of the 1980 Child Abduction Convention and the 1996 Child Protection Convention was held at the Peace Palace in The Hague. The meeting was attended by 471 delegates, in person and via videoconference, representing HCCH Members, non-Member Contracting Parties, and Observers, as well as by...

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Launch of e-Country Profiles project

The Permanent Bureau is pleased to announce the launch of the e-Country Profiles project, a new EU-funded project coordinated by the Permanent Bureau of the HCCH. The project will result in the development or modernisation of online Country Profiles for a number of key HCCH Conventions: 1965 Service Convention 1970 Evidence Convention 1980 Child Abduction Convention 1993 Adoption Convention ...

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Child Abduction Convention enters into force for Botswana

Today, 1 February 2023, the Convention of 25 October 1980 on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction (1980 Child Abduction Convention) entered into force for the Republic of Botswana following the deposit of its instrument of accession on 14 November 2022. The 1980 Child Abduction Convention currently has 103 Contracting Parties. More information on this Convention is available on...

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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...

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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...

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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...

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Cabo Verde accedes to the Child Abduction and Child Protection Conventions

The Permanent Bureau has been informed that on 4 October 2022 the Republic of Cabo Verde deposited its instrument of accession to the Convention of 25 October 1980 on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction (Child Abduction Convention) and the Convention of 19 October 1996 on Jurisdiction, Applicable Law, Recognition, Enforcement and Co-operation in respect of Parental Responsibility...

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Now available in 23 EU languages: Guide to Good Practice under the Child Abduction Convention: Part VI – Article 13(1)(b)

The Permanent Bureau is pleased to announce the publication of 19 new translations of the Guide to Good Practice under the Child Abduction Convention: Part VI – Article 13(1)(b). With these new translations, the Guide to Good Practice is now available in 23 European Union (EU) languages. The Guide, originally published in English and French, was developed by the Permanent Bureau of the...

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40th Anniversary of the Child Abduction and Access to Justice Conventions

On 25 October 2020, two HCCH Conventions celebrate their respective 40th anniversaries, following adoption at the Fourteenth Session: the 1980 Child Abduction Convention and the 1980 Access to Justice Convention. The Child Abduction Convention has become one of the most visible HCCH Conventions since its entry into force on 1 December 1983. The Convention aims to protect children from the harmful...

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Toolkit for the HCCH 1980 Child Abduction Convention in Times of COVID-19

Following the publication of the HCCH COVID-19 Toolkit, the Permanent Bureau has prepared a Toolkit for the effective application of the 1980 Child Abduction Convention in times of COVID-19. This focused Toolkit presents key aspects and specific HCCH resources relevant in the face of the challenges posed by the COVID-19 situation in the context of the 1980 Child Abduction Convention. Recalling...

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