High-Level Conference on the Universalisation of the PCA and the HCCH
From 15 to 17 April 2026, the High-Level Conference on the Universalisation of the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) and the Hague Conference on Private International Law (HCCH) was held in Dakar (Senegal). It brought together over 65 participants representing 17 States and five intergovernmental organisations, including the Secretaries General of the two organisations.
The conference convened ministers and senior officials from French-speaking States in Africa for a high-level discussion on the benefits and practicalities of strengthened engagement with the PCA and the HCCH. Over the course of three days, participants exchanged views and experiences through a series of presentations, roundtables, and informal exchanges. The discussions highlighted a shared interest among participating States in strengthening international legal cooperation, both within the region and beyond, through the frameworks offered by the PCA and the HCCH.
The HCCH expresses its gratitude to the PCA and to the Government of Senegal for their contributions as co-organisers of the conference, as well as to the Governments of Belgium, France, Morocco and Switzerland for their generous support.