Estonia implements the e-APP
On 1 December 2017, the Chamber of Notaries of Estonia began issuing e-Apostilles and launched a Category 2 e-Register, as part of the electronic Apostille Program (e-APP) under the Hague Convention of 5 October 1961 Abolishing the Requirement of Legalisation for Foreign Public Documents (Apostille Convention). Users can now apply for both e-Apostilles and paper Apostilles via the...
Working Group on the Authentication of Documents Generated by Supranational and Intergovernmental Organisations
On 1 December 2017, the Working Group on the Authentication of Documents Generated by Supranational and Intergovernmental Organisations met in The Hague. The Working Group was attended by 36 experts, representing 22 States, one supranational organisation and one intergovernmental organisation, as well as members of the Permanent Bureau. The report of the Working Group is now available...
Available now: Explanatory Report on the Adults Convention in official languages of the EU
The revised edition of the Explanatory Report on the Hague Convention of 13 January 2000 on the International Protection of Adults, prepared by Paul Lagarde in January 2000 and published in August 2017 in both English and French, is now available in all official languages of the European Union, with the exception of German. The European Commission (DG Justice) generously provided the translations...
The Child Protection Convention enters into force for Cuba
Today, 1 December 2017, 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 (hereinafter the “Child Protection Convention”) entered into force for Cuba, following the deposit of its instrument of accession on 22 February 2017. The...
Delegation of African Justices at the PB
Today, 30 November 2017, in collaboration with the African Foundation of International Law (AFIL) and the Hague Project: Peace and Justice, the Permanent Bureau hosted a group of African Chief Justices and other senior judges to promote further engagement of African States with the HCCH. Justices from eight different African States were present at the meeting including Benin, Burkina Faso,...
2007 Child Support Convention: 38 Contracting Parties in 10 Years
It is exactly 10 years ago today that the Convention of 23 November 2007 on the International Recovery of Child Support and Other Forms of Family Maintenance and the Protocol of 23 November 2007 on the Law Applicable to Maintenance Obligations were concluded. With 38 and 30 Contracting Parties respectively (including REIOs and States bound as a result of the approval by a REIO), the Convention and...
Conclusion of the third meeting of the Special Commission on the Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Judgments
From 13 to 17 November 2017, the Special Commission on the Judgments Project met in The Hague. The Special Commission was attended by 180 participants from 57 States and one Regional Economic Integration Organisation (“REIO”), representing Members of the Hague Conference on Private International Law. Also in attendance as Observers were 5 interested non-Member States, and 14...
Seventh Meeting of the Special Commission on the practical operation of the 1980 and 1996 Conventions completes its work
From 10 to 17 October 2017, 292 participants took part in the Seventh Meeting of the Special Commission on the Practical Operation of the 1980 Hague Child Abduction Convention and the 1996 Hague Child Protection Convention, representing 62 Member States and one REIO, six non-Member Contracting States, four invited non-Member non-Contracting States and observers from 14 IGO / NGOs. These included...
Honduras accedes to the 1996 Child Protection and 2007 Child Support Conventions
On Monday 16 October 2017, Honduras deposited the instruments of accession to the Hague 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, and to the Hague Convention of 23 November 2007 on the International Recovery of Child Support and Other Form of Family...
Montenegro signs the 2005 Choice of Court Convention
On Thursday 5 October 2017, Montenegro signed the Hague Convention of 30 June 2005 on Choice of Court Agreements (Choice of Court Convention). The Choice of Court Convention currently has 30 Contracting Parties (incl. REIOs and States bound as a result of approval by an REIO); with Montenegro’s signature, there are now an additional 4 States that have signed the Convention. At the...