Guyana accedes to the Intercountry Adoption Convention and the Child Support Convention

On 6 March 2019, during the meeting of the Council on General Affairs and Policy, the Depositary informed Council that on 5 February 2019, Guyana had deposited its instrument of accession to the HCCH Convention of 29 May 1993 on the Protection of Children and Co-operation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption (Intercountry Adoption Convention), making it the 100th Contracting Party to the Convention. The Intercountry Adoption Convention will enter into force for Guyana on 1 June 2019. This is a significant development and milestone as the Intercountry Adoption Convention is the third HCCH Convention to reach the mark of 100 Contracting Parties (after the Apostille and the Child Abduction Conventions).

On the same day, Guyana had also deposited its instrument of accession to the HCCH Convention of 23 November 2007 on the International Recovery of Child Support and Other Forms of Family Maintenance (Child Support Convention), making it the 40th Contracting Party to the Convention. The Child Support Convention will enter into force for Guyana on 7 March 2020. 

Having also acceded to the Child Abduction and the Child Protection Conventions, and together with the ratification of the Intercountry Adoption and Child Support Conventions, Guyana becomes the first State of the Americas to be party to all HCCH Children’s Conventions. Guyana is also party to the Apostille Convention. However, Guyana is not yet a Member of the HCCH.