Fifth Meeting of the Working Group established to complete the Country Profile and work on the draft Cooperation Request Recommended Model Form for the 1996 Child Protection Convention
In March 2024, the Council on General Affairs and Policy (CGAP) approved the establishment of a Working Group (WG) to first complete the Country Profile for the 1996 Child Protection Convention and then to progress work on the draft Cooperation Request Recommended Model Form under the 1996 Child Protection Convention (see Conclusion and Decisions Nos 23-24 of CGAP 2024). The fifth meeting of...
Second Working Meeting of the Digital Tokens Project
The second working meeting of the Digital Tokens Project was held in hybrid format from 7 to 8 October 2024, hosted by the Permanent Bureau (PB) in The Hague. The meeting was attended by 41 participants, identified to the PB by 14 HCCH Members and seven Observers, as well as by members of the PB. During the meeting, participants discussed intersessional submissions in response to the project...
Fifth Conference on the HCCH Children’s Conventions as Bridges between Civil / Common Law and Islamic Law (Malta V)
From 24 to 27 September 2024, the HCCH and the Government of Malta co-hosted the Fifth Conference on the HCCH Children’s Conventions as Bridges between Civil / Common Law and Islamic Law (Malta V) (see Conclusion and Decision No 30 of CGAP 2024). The conference was organised within the framework of the Malta Process, initiated by the HCCH in 2004 to facilitate dialogue and promote...
2005 Choice of Court Convention and 2007 Maintenance Obligations Protocol enter into force for Albania
On 1 October 2024, the Convention of 30 June 2005 on Choice of Court Agreements (2005 Choice of Court Convention) and the Protocol of 23 November 2007 on the Law Applicable to Maintenance Obligations (2007 Maintenance Obligations Protocol) entered into force for the Republic of Albania following the deposit of its instruments of ratification on 25 June 2024. At present, 35 States and the European...
2019 Judgments Convention enters into force for Uruguay
Today, 1 October 2024, 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 Oriental Republic of Uruguay following the deposit of its instrument of ratification on 1 September 2023. At present, 30 HCCH Members are either bound by the 2019 Judgments Convention or a Contracting...
1965 Service Convention enters into force for the Dominican Republic and El Salvador
Today, 1 October 2024, the Convention of 15 November 1965 on the Service Abroad of Judicial and Extrajudicial Documents in Civil or Commercial Matters (1965 Service Convention) entered into force for the Dominican Republic and the Republic of El Salvador following the deposit of their instruments of accession on 21 March 2024. The 1965 Service Convention has 84 Contracting Parties. More...
Update on the e-APP
Designed to facilitate the authentication of public documents for use abroad, the electronic Apostille Programme (e-APP) has become an integral part of the operation of the Convention of 5 October 1961 Abolishing the Requirement of Legalisation for Foreign Public Documents (1961 Apostille Convention). The e-APP has two components, which can be implemented separately or together: The...
Kosovo signs the 2005 Choice of Court and 2019 Judgments Conventions
On 19 September 2024, H. E. Dr Dren Doli, Ambassador to the Netherlands, signed, on behalf of Kosovo, the Convention of 30 June 2005 on Choice of Court Agreements (2005 Choice of Court Convention) and the Convention of 2 July 2019 on the Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Judgments in Civil or Commercial Matters (2019 Judgments Convention). The 2005 Choice of Court Convention, which currently...
Switzerland accedes to the 2005 Choice of Court Convention
On 18 September 2024 the Swiss Confederation 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 Switzerland, 35 States and the European Union are bound by the 2005 Choice of Court Convention. It will enter into force for Switzerland on 1 January 2025. More information on this Convention is...
Albania signs the 2019 Judgments Convention
On 12 September 2024, Ms Evi Naku, Head of Cabinet of the Minister of Justice, signed, on behalf of the Republic of Albania, the Convention of 2 July 2019 on the Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Judgments in Civil or Commercial Matters (2019 Judgments Convention). The 2019 Judgments Convention will enter into force for the Republic of Albania only after it deposits an instrument of...