HCCH Secretary General elected Associé of the Institut de Droit International
Hague Service Convention soon in force for 60 States
On 8 September 2009, Belize deposited its instrument of accession to the Hague Convention of 15 November 1965 on the Service Abroad of Judicial and Extrajudicial Documents in Civil or Commercial Matters with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands. In the absence of any objection from a State which has ratified the Convention before 8 September 2009, Belize will become the 60th...
Switzerland first State to ratify Hague Securities Convention
On Monday 14 September 2009, the Hague Convention of 5 July 2006 on the Law Applicable to Certain Rights in Respect of Securities held with an Intermediary was ratified by Switzerland. Two more ratifications or accessions are needed in order for the Convention, which is open for signature by all States, to enter into force. See also the related items listed below: - Swiss Government...
Croatia ratifies 1996 Child Protection Convention
On Friday, 4 September 2009, the Republic of Croatia deposited the instrument of ratification of the Hague 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. The Convention will enter into force for Croatia on 1 January 2010. On...
Greece signs and ratifies the 1993 Hague Intercountry Adoption Convention
On Wednesday 2 September 2009, the Hague Convention of 29 May 1993 on Protection of Children and Co-operation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption was signed and ratified by H.E. Mr Konstantinos Ioannis Rallis, Ambassador of Greece. Also attended the signing ceremony at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs at The Hague, as representatives of the Hague Conference, Mr Hans van Loon, Secretary General,...
Francophone Seminar on the Hague Intercountry Adoption Convention, The Hague, 22-26 June 2009
The Francophone Seminar on the 1993 Adoption Convention, organised by the Hague Conference on Private International Law in partnership with the French Institute of the Netherlands and the Organisation internationale de la francophonie (International Organization of the Francophonie), and the Governments of Belgium (French-speaking community), Canada, France, Luxembourg and...
New Zealand issues first e-Apostille
On 13 May 2009, the Authentication Unit of the Department of Internal Affairs (Te Tari Taiwhenua) of New Zealand issued its first e-Apostille. This e-Apostille, issued in full conformity with the model suggested under the electronic Apostille Pilot Program (e-APP), is the first to be issued in the Asia-Pacific region. The Authentication Unit issued another e-Apostille on 14 May 2009. In both...
Nepal signs Hague Intercountry Adoption Convention
On Tuesday 28 April 2009, the Hague Convention of 29 May 1993 on Protection of Children and Co-operation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption was signed by H.E. Mr Pramesh Kuman Hamal, Ambassador of Nepal to the Benelux and the European Communities. Mr Deepak Dhital, DCM/Minister Counsellor at the Embassy of Nepal, also attended the short ceremony at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in The Hague,...
Council on General Affairs
From 31 March until 2 April 2009, the Council on General Affairs was held in the building of the Academy of International Law in The Hague. The Conclusions and Recommendations have been published shortly after the meeting and are accessible here. See also items 163 and 164 of the News and events section, which are related to the 2009 Council....
Official launching by Mrs Alegría Borrás of the Spanish section of the HCCH website
In 1998, the website of the Hague Conference was created in the Organisation's official languages, French and English. To meet the growing demand within the international community to access this information in other languages, a section called "Other languages" was created. This new section contains links to translations in several languages of the Hague Conventions and other documents...