Fifth Meeting of the International Transfer of Maintenance Funds Experts’ Group
From 29 to 31 January 2024, the International Transfer of Maintenance Funds Experts’ Group (ITMFEG) met for the fifth time. The meeting, held online, was attended by 54 experts in total, representing 22 HCCH Members, and one Observer. Several staff members of the Permanent Bureau of the HCCH also attended the meeting.
Pursuant to its mandate by the Council on General Affairs and Policy (CGAP), the ITMFEG continued its work discussing good practices in relation to the cross-border transfer of maintenance payments. In particular, the fifth meeting of the ITMFEG provided an opportunity for States to present their experiences with the various internal systems and tools available for the safe and efficient electronic transfer of maintenance funds. The Group noted the considerable progress made towards the gradual elimination of the use of cheques, in particular thanks to the Central Authority Payment (CAP) service operated by the United States of America and piloted with the assistance of Germany. Advances in relation to iSupport and its possibilities in facilitating the international transfer of maintenance funds were also noted. The ITMFEG will present a report on the progress of its work to CGAP in March 2024.
An aide-mémoire, providing a short overview of the main points of discussion, can be found here. More information on the 2007 Child Support Convention and 2007 Maintenance Obligations Protocol is available on the Child Support Section of the HCCH website.