CGAP 2026
The Council on General Affairs and Policy (CGAP) of the HCCH met from 3 to 6 March 2026. The meeting was attended by 560 participants, representing 80 HCCH Members, 12 non-Member States, seven intergovernmental organisations, and 12 international non-governmental organisations, as well as members of the Permanent Bureau (PB). The Conclusions & Decisions adopted by CGAP will be available...
CGAP 2026 — Guatemala becomes 93rd Member of the HCCH
Today, 4 March 2026, during its annual meeting, the Council on General Affairs and Policy of the HCCH welcomed the Republic of Guatemala as a new Member of the Organisation. H.E. Ms Ana Cristina Rodríguez Pineda, Ambassador to the Netherlands, deposited Guatemala’s instrument of acceptance of...
Publication of the HCCH 2025 Annual Report
The Permanent Bureau is pleased to announce the publication of the HCCH 2025 Annual Report. Throughout the past year, the HCCH continued to advance its legislative work and to promote the effective operation of its Conventions, successfully convening the meetings of four Experts’...
2005 Choice of Court Convention enters into force for Monaco
On 1 March 2026, the Convention of 30 June 2005 on Choice of Court Agreements (2005 Choice of Court Convention) entered into force for the Principality of Monaco following the deposit of its instrument of accession on 27 November 2025. At present, 38 States and the European Union are bound by the 2005 Choice of Court Convention. More information on this Convention is available on the Choice...
2019 Judgments Convention enters into force for Montenegro
On 1 March 2026, the Convention of 2 July 2019 on the Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Judgments in Civil or Commercial Matters (2019 Judgments Convention) entered into force for Montenegro following the deposit of its instrument of ratification on 21 February 2025. At present, 33 HCCH Members are either bound by the 2019 Judgments Convention or a Contracting Party for which the...
2019 Judgments Convention enters into force for Albania
On 1 March 2026, the Convention of 2 July 2019 on the Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Judgments in Civil or Commercial Matters (2019 Judgments Convention) entered into force for the Republic of Albania following the deposit of its instrument of ratification on 13 February 2025. At present, 33 HCCH Members are either bound by the 2019 Judgments Convention or a Contracting Party...
2007 Child Support Convention enters into force for El Salvador
On 7 February 2025, the Convention of 23 November 2007 on the International Recovery of Child Support and Other Forms of Family Maintenance (2007 Child Support Convention) entered into force for El Salvador following the deposit of its instrument of accession on 6 February 2025. At present, 55 States and the European Union are bound by the 2007 Child Support Convention. More information on this...
Seventh Meeting of the International Transfer of Maintenance Funds Experts’ Group
From 2 to 4 February 2026, the seventh meeting of the International Transfer of Maintenance Funds Experts’ Group (ITMFEG) was held online, hosted by the Permanent Bureau (PB). The meeting had close to 60 registered delegates and other experts, representing 26 HCCH Members and two Observers, in addition to members of the PB. Pursuant to its mandate (C&R No 30 of CGAP 2019), the ITMFEG...
Viet Nam accedes to the 1961 Apostille Convention
The Permanent Bureau has been informed that, on 31 December 2025, the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam deposited its instrument of accession to the Convention of 5 October 1961 Abolishing the Requirement of Legalisation for Foreign Public Documents (1961 Apostille Convention). With the accession of Viet Nam, the 1961 Apostille Convention now has 129 Contracting Parties. It will enter into force for...
1996 Child Protection Convention enters into force for Argentina
On 1 January 2026, the 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 (1996 Child Protection Convention) entered into force for the Argentine Republic following the deposit of its instrument of ratification on 18 September 2025. The 1996 Child Protection...