El Salvador accedes to the 1996 Child Protection Convention
Today, 10 September 2024, the Republic of El Salvador deposited its instrument of accession to 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). With the accession of El Salvador, the 1996 Child Protection Convention now...
13th International Forum on the e-APP: Registration now open!
The Permanent Bureau is pleased to announce that registration is now open for participation in the 13th International Forum on the electronic Apostille Programme (e-APP), which will take place on Monday 21 October and Tuesday 22 October 2024 in Astana, Kazakhstan. To be held for the first time in Central Asia, the Forum will be jointly organised by the HCCH, the Ministry...
2007 Child Support Convention and 2007 Maintenance Obligations Protocol enter into force for Georgia
On 1 September 2024, the Convention of 23 November 2007 on the International Recovery of Child Support and Other Forms of Family Maintenance (2007 Child Support Convention) and the Protocol of 23 November 2007 on the Law Applicable to Maintenance Obligations (2007 Maintenance Obligations Protocol) entered into force for Georgia, following the deposit of its instruments of ratification on 14 May...
Romania signs the 2000 Protection of Adults Convention
Today, 29 August 2024, H.E. Mr Lucian Fătu, Ambassador of Romania to the Netherlands, signed, on behalf of Romania, the Convention of 13 January 2000 on the International Protection of Adults (2000 Protection of Adults Convention). The 2000 Protection of Adults Convention, which currently has 16 Contracting Parties, will enter into force for Romania only after it deposits an instrument of...
Bangladesh accedes to the 1961 Apostille Convention
Today, 29 July 2024, the People’s Republic of Bangladesh 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 Bangladesh, the 1961 Apostille Convention now has 127 Contracting Parties. It will enter into force for Bangladesh on 30 March 2025. More...
Meeting of the Special Commission (SC) on the Practical Operation of the 1965 Service, 1970 Evidence, and 1980 Access to Justice Conventions
From 2 to 5 July 2024, the Meeting of the SC on the Practical Operation of the 1965 Service, 1970 Evidence, and 1980 Access to Justice Conventions (Conventions) was held in The Hague. The meeting was attended by 260 delegates and other experts, in person and online, representing HCCH Members, non-Member Contracting Parties, and Observers, as well as by members of the Permanent Bureau (PB). It was...
Third 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 third meeting...
Albania ratifies the 2005 Choice of Court Convention and the 2007 Maintenance Obligations Protocol
The Permanent Bureau has been informed that, on 25 June 2024, the Republic of Albania deposited its instrument of ratification of 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). With the ratification of Albania, 34...
Entry into force of Spanish as an additional official language of the HCCH
Today, 1 July 2024, marks the entry into force of Spanish as an additional official language of the HCCH. As of today, English, French, and Spanish are the three official languages of the Organisation. The Members of the HCCH took the historic decision to adopt Spanish as an official language in March 2023, during the annual meeting of the HCCH Council on General Affairs and Policy...
2005 Choice of Court Convention enters into force for Moldova
Today, 1 July 2024, the Convention of 30 June 2005 on Choice of Court Agreements (2005 Choice of Court Convention) entered into force for the Republic of Moldova, following the deposit of its instrument of accession on 14 March 2024. At present, 34 States and the European Union are bound by the 2005 Choice of Court Convention. More information on this Convention is available on the Choice...