Following Guyana’s accessions, Child Abduction and Child Protection Conventions have 100 and 50 Contracting Parties respectively

On 5 February 2019, Guyana deposited its instrument of accession to the HCCH Convention of 25 October 1980 on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction (“Child Abduction Convention”), making it the 100th Contracting Party to the Convention. The Child Abduction Convention will enter into force for Guyana on 1 May 2019. This is a significant development and milestone as the...

read more


Fifth meeting of the Experts’ Group on Parentage / Surrogacy

From 29 January to 1 February 2019, the Experts’ Group on Parentage / Surrogacy met for the fifth time in The Hague. The meeting was attended by 21 Experts from different States, three observers and members of the Permanent Bureau. The mandate of the Group is “to explore the feasibility of advancing work (…) on the private...

read more


Vulnerable adults – An important step forward

Approximately 130 experts from more than 35 States representing all continents gathered from 5 to 7 December 2018 in Brussels, Belgium, to discuss "Cross-border Protection of Vulnerable Adults" in a conference organised jointly by the European Commission and the HCCH. Experts stressed the practical importance of the topic. Discussions included current needs of vulnerable adults in...

read more


Child Abduction Convention enters into force for Cuba

On 1 December 2018, the Convention of 25 October 1980 on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction (“Child Abduction Convention”) entered into force for Cuba, following the deposit of its instrument of accession on 12 September 2018. The Child Abduction Convention currently has 99 Contracting Parties. In addition to the Child Abduction Convention, Cuba is a Contracting Party...

read more


Trusts Convention enters into force for Panama

On 1 December 2018, the Convention of 1 July 1985 on the Law Applicable to Trusts and on their Recognition (“Trusts Convention”) entered into force for Panama, following the deposit of its instrument of accession on 30 August 2017. The Trusts Convention currently has 14 Contracting Parties.  Panama has been a Member of the HCCH since...

read more


Brazil accedes to the Service Convention

On 29 November 2018, Brazil deposited its instruments of accession to the Convention of 15 November 1965 on the Service Abroad of Judicial and Extrajudicial Documents in Civil or Commercial Matters (Service Convention). With the accession of Brazil, the Service Convention now has 74 Contracting Parties. The Service Convention will enter into force for Brazil on 1 June 2019. At the ceremony, which...

read more



Conference of Hague Convention Network Judges celebrating the 20th anniversary of the International Hague Network of Judges

From 24 to 26 October 2018, on the occasion of the 20th Anniversary of the International Hague Network of Judges (“IHNJ”), Members of the IHNJ from over 30 jurisdictions, experts from the Central Authority of the United States of America (“USCA”), Reunite, private practice, and the Permanent Bureau (PB) of the Hague Conference on Private International Law (HCCH), met at...

read more