First Meetings of the Working Groups (WGs) on the Practical Handbooks and Country Profiles for the 1965 Service and 1970 Evidence Conventions
In March 2024, the Council on General Affairs and Policy (CGAP) approved the establishment of two Working Groups (WGs), consisting of representatives from a variety of geographical regions, to review and refine updates to the Practical Handbooks and Country Profiles relevant to the 1965 Service and 1970 Evidence Conventions, respectively (see Conclusion and Decisions Nos 46-49 of CGAP...
Kick-off Meeting of the Digital Tokens Project
In March 2024, the Council on General Affairs and Policy (CGAP) decided to commence the Digital Tokens Project (see Conclusion & Decision No 12). Under this project, the Permanent Bureau (PB), in partnership with relevant subject-matter experts and Observers, is studying the private international law issues relating to digital tokens. On 15 May 2024, the kick-off meeting of the Digital Tokens...
Georgia ratifies the 2007 Child Support Convention and the 2007 Maintenance Obligations Protocol
On 14 May 2024, Georgia deposited its instruments of ratification of the Convention of 23 November 2007 on the International Recovery of Child Support and Other Forms of Family Maintenance (2007 Child Support Convention) and of the Protocol of 23 November 2007 on the Law Applicable to Maintenance Obligations (2007 Maintenance Obligations Protocol). The ceremony was held at the Ministry of Foreign...
Kick-off Meeting of the Experts’ Group on Central Bank Digital Currencies
In March 2024, the Council on General Affairs and Policy (CGAP) decided to establish an Experts’ Group to study the applicable law and jurisdiction issues raised by the cross-border use and transfers of CBDCs (see Conclusion and Decisions Nos 9 and 10 of CGAP 2024). Following on this decision, the Secretary General of the HCCH convoked the Experts’ Group on Central Bank Digital...
Second Meeting of the Working Group on Parentage / Surrogacy
From 8 to 12 April 2024, the Working Group on Parentage / Surrogacy met for the second time. The meeting, held in hybrid format, was attended by 46 delegates and other participants, representing 27 HCCH Members and three Observers, as well as by members of the Permanent Bureau of the HCCH. Pursuant to its mandate, the Working Group continued its consideration of draft provisions for one new...
Pre-registration for the Forum on Domestic Violence and the Operation of Article 13(1)(b) of the 1980 Child Abduction Convention now open for all interested delegates and experts
The Permanent Bureau is pleased to announce that the Forum on Domestic Violence and the Operation of Article 13(1)(b) of the 1980 Child Abduction Convention (Forum) will be held in Sandton, South Africa, from Tuesday 18 to Friday 21 June 2024 (see C&D No 31 of the 2024 CGAP meeting). While in-person participation is strongly encouraged, passive online participation (listening only) will...
El Salvador accedes to the 1965 Service Convention and the Dominican Republic accedes to the 1965 Service and 2007 Child Support Conventions
Today, 21 March 2024, the Republic of El Salvador deposited its instrument of accession to the Convention of 15 November 1965 on the Service Abroad of Judicial and Extrajudicial Documents in Civil or Commercial Matters (1965 Service Convention) and the Dominican Republic deposited its instruments of accession to the 1965 Service Convention and the Convention of 23 November 2007 on the...
Moldova accedes to the 2005 Choice of Court Convention
The Permanent Bureau has been informed that, on 14 March 2024, the Republic of Moldova deposited its instrument of accession to the Convention of 30 June 2005 on Choice of Court Agreements (2005 Choice of Court Convention). With the accession of Moldova, 33 States and the European Union are bound by the 2005 Choice of Court Convention. It will enter into force for Moldova on 1 July 2024. More...
Angola accedes to the 1993 Adoption Convention
The Permanent Bureau has been informed that on 14 March 2024, the Republic of Angola deposited its instrument of accession to the Convention of 29 May 1993 on Protection of Children and Co-operation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption (1993 Adoption Convention). With the accession of Angola, the 1993 Adoption Convention now has 106 Contracting Parties. It will enter into force for Angola on 1...
CGAP 2024 – Conclusions & Decisions now available!
The Council on General Affairs and Policy (CGAP) of the HCCH met from 5 to 8 March 2024. The meeting was attended by over 429 participants, representing 74 HCCH Members, 5 non-Member States, 7 intergovernmental organisations, 8 international non-governmental organisations, and members of the Permanent Bureau (PB). The Conclusions & Decisions adopted by CGAP are now available in English,...