New e-Country Profiles for key HCCH Conventions now available
Meeting of the Working Party on Mediation
On 26 November 2025, the Working Party on Cross-Border Family Mediation in the Context of the Malta Process (Working Party on Mediation) met online. The meeting had over 30 registered participants, representing 16 HCCH Members and two Observer States, in addition to members of the Permanent Bureau of the HCCH. During the meeting, participants heard about the system of cross-border mediation...
Second Forum on Domestic Violence and the 1980 Child Abduction Convention – with a focus on the Operation of Article 13(1)(b)
From 27 to 30 October 2025, the HCCH and the Government of Brazil co-hosted the Second Forum on Domestic Violence and the 1980 Child Abduction Convention – with a focus on the Operation of Article 13(1)(b) (see Conclusion and Decision No 26 of CGAP 2025) in Fortaleza. The Forum had almost 500 registered participants, of which over 150 in person, representing HCCH Members, non-Member...
Roundtable and Training on the application of the 1980 Child Abduction and 1996 Child Protection Conventions, in particular concerning the children of Ukraine
On 11 and 12 September 2025, the Permanent Bureau (PB) of the HCCH hosted a Roundtable and Training on the application of the 1980 Child Abduction and 1996 Child Protection Conventions, in particular concerning the children of Ukraine. The event, held in hybrid format, had close to 85 registered participants, representing 25 HCCH Members and three Observers, in addition to members of the PB. The...
INCADAT — New sponsors and launch of notification service
The Permanent Bureau is pleased to announce several notable developments with regard to the HCCH’s International Child Abduction Database (INCADAT), the only global, free legal database on international child abduction law. Offered as part of the HCCH’s post-Convention work, INCADAT facilitates the research of cases within the scope of application of the 1980 Child Abduction...
Meeting of the Working Party on Mediation
On 13 June 2025, the Working Party on Cross-Border Family Mediation in the Context of the Malta Process (Working Party on Mediation) met online. The meeting was attended by over 30 participants representing 13 HCCH Members and 1 Observer State, three independent experts as well as by members of the Permanent Bureau of the HCCH. During the meeting, the independent experts made presentations...
HCCH Judicial Roundtable
On 22 May 2025, the HCCH Judicial Roundtable was held in Singapore, co-hosted by the Singapore Family Justice Courts and the HCCH. It was preceded by the 4th Global Meeting of the IHNJ, which took place from 19 to 21 May 2025. Organised in conjunction with the 3rd Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Family Judges Forum, the HCCH Judicial Roundtable brought together over 65 judges from...
Fourth Global Meeting of the International Hague Network of Judges
From 19 to 21 May 2025, the Fourth Global Meeting of the International Hague Network of Judges (IHNJ) was held in Singapore, co-hosted by the Singapore Family Justice Courts and the HCCH. It was attended by over 50 judges representing 34 HCCH Members. The meeting consisted of 18 sessions, bringing together experts from over 20 States. Following the opening remarks, the first session set the...
Informal brainstorming session on future meetings of the Special Commission on the 1980 Child Abduction and 1996 Child Protection Conventions
From 18 to 21 November 2024, an informal brainstorming session on future meetings of the Special Commission (SC) on the 1980 Child Abduction and 1996 Child Protection Conventions was held online, hosted by the Permanent Bureau (PB) in The Hague. It was attended by over 80 participants representing 29 Members, as well as by members of the PB. As mandated by the Council on General Affairs and...
Fifth Conference on the HCCH Children’s Conventions as Bridges between Civil / Common Law and Islamic Law (Malta V)
From 24 to 27 September 2024, the HCCH and the Government of Malta co-hosted the Fifth Conference on the HCCH Children’s Conventions as Bridges between Civil / Common Law and Islamic Law (Malta V) (see Conclusion and Decision No 30 of CGAP 2024). The conference was organised within the framework of the Malta Process, initiated by the HCCH in 2004 to facilitate dialogue and promote...