Informal brainstorming session on future meetings of the Special Commission on the 1980 Child Abduction and 1996 Child Protection Conventions

From 18 to 21 November 2024, an informal brainstorming session on future meetings of the Special Commission (SC) on the 1980 Child Abduction and 1996 Child Protection Conventions was held online, hosted by the Permanent Bureau (PB) in The Hague. It was attended by over 80 participants representing 29 Members, as well as by members of the PB. As mandated by the Council on General Affairs and...

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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...

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Forum on Domestic Violence and the Operation of Article 13(1)(b) of the 1980 Child Abduction Convention

From 18 to 21 June 2024, the HCCH co-hosted the Forum on Domestic Violence and the Operation of Article 13(1)(b) of the 1980 Child Abduction Convention with the Government of South Africa and the University of Pretoria’s Centre for Child Law (see Conclusion and Decision No 31 of CGAP 2024). With about 100 attendees joining in person and a total of over 340 connecting online from around the...

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Forum on Domestic Violence and the Operation of Article 13(1)(b) of the 1980 Child Abduction Convention

From 18 to 21 June 2024, the HCCH will hold a Forum on domestic violence and the related operation of Article 13(1)(b) of the 1980 Child Abduction Convention in Sandton, South Africa, co-hosted with the Government of South Africa and the University of Pretoria’s Centre for Child Law (see Conclusion and Decision No 31 of CGAP 2024). The Forum will bring together relevant parties with...

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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...

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Eighth Meeting of the Special Commission on the Practical Operation of the 1980 Child Abduction Convention and the 1996 Child Protection Convention

From 10 to 17 October 2023, the Eighth Meeting of the Special Commission (SC) on the Practical Operation of the 1980 Child Abduction Convention and the 1996 Child Protection Convention was held at the Peace Palace in The Hague. The meeting was attended by 471 delegates, in person and via videoconference, representing HCCH Members, non-Member Contracting Parties, and Observers, as well as by...

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Launch of e-Country Profiles project

The Permanent Bureau is pleased to announce the launch of the e-Country Profiles project, a new EU-funded project coordinated by the Permanent Bureau of the HCCH. The project will result in the development or modernisation of online Country Profiles for a number of key HCCH Conventions: 1965 Service Convention 1970 Evidence Convention 1980 Child Abduction Convention 1993 Adoption Convention ...

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Child Abduction Convention enters into force for Botswana

Today, 1 February 2023, the Convention of 25 October 1980 on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction (1980 Child Abduction Convention) entered into force for the Republic of Botswana following the deposit of its instrument of accession on 14 November 2022. The 1980 Child Abduction Convention currently has 103 Contracting Parties. More information on this Convention is available on...

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Child Abduction Convention enters into force for Cabo Verde

On 1 January 2023, the Convention of 25 October 1980 on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction (1980 Child Abduction Convention) entered into force for Cabo Verde following the deposit of its instrument of accession on 4 October 2022. The 1980 Child Abduction Convention currently has 103 Contracting Parties. More information on this Convention is available on the Child Abduction...

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Publication of the Practitioners’ Tool: Cross-Border Recognition and Enforcement of Agreements Reached in the Course of Family Matters Involving Children

The Permanent Bureau is pleased to announce the publication of the Practitioners’ Tool: Cross-Border Recognition and Enforcement of Agreements Reached in the Course of Family Matters Involving Children (Practitioners’ Tool). The Practitioners’ Tool aims to explain how agreements made in the area of family law involving children (“family agreements”) can be made...

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