Council on General Affairs and Policy – Conclusions & Recommendations

From 14 to 16 March 2017, Members of the HCCH gathered in The Hague for the meeting of the Council on General Affairs and Policy. The Council was attended by 162 participants, representing 67 Members and observers from seven IGO / NGOs. The Council reviewed the work of the Organisation carried out during the previous year and charted the course for future work. It recognised the very good...

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Belarus signs the 2007 Hague Convention on Child Support ; the Republic of Cyprus ratifies the 1985 Hague Trusts Convention

On 15 March 2017, during the meeting of the Council on General Affairs and Policy of the Hague Conference, Belarus signed the Hague Convention of 23 November 2007 on the International Recovery of Child Support and Other Forms of Family Maintenance. Belarus was represented by the Minister of Justice, H.E. Mr. Oleg L. Slizhevsky. With the signature of Belarus, the Convention now has 37 States and...

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Jamaica joins Child Abduction Convention - 150th State connected to HCCH

On 24 February 2017, Jamaica deposited its instrument of accession to the Hague Convention of 25 October 1980 on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction and thus became the 97th Contracting State to that Convention. The Convention will enter into force for Jamaica on 1 May 2017. Jamaica has also designated a judge to the International Hague Network of Judges (IHNJ) specialised in...

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Pakistan: Hague Abduction Convention Enters into Force

On 1 March 2017, the Convention of 25 October 1980 on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction entered into force for Pakistan. After having deposited its instrument of accession to the Convention on 22 December 2016, Pakistan became the 96th Contracting State to the instrument. More information is available on the Child Abduction Section of the Hague Conference website. While not a...

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Conclusion of the second meeting of the Special Commission on the Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Judgments

From 16 to 24 February 2017, the Special Commission on the Judgments Project was reconvened in The Hague. The Special Commission was attended by 189 participants from 56 States and one Regional Economic Integration Organisation (“REIO”), representing Members of the Hague Conference on Private International Law. Also in attendance as Observers were six interested non-Member States, and...

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Cuba Joins the 1996 Hague Child Protection Convention

On Monday 20 February 2017, the Republic of Cuba deposited its instrument 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. With the accession of Cuba, the Convention now has 48 States which have signed, ratified or acceded to the...

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Belgium signs the 2000 Hague Protection of Adults Convention

On Monday 6 February 2017, Belgium signed the Hague Convention of 13 January 2000 on International Protection of Adults. With the signature of Belgium, the Convention now has 18 States which have signed, ratified or acceded to the instrument. Belgium is currently a Contracting State to 14 other Conventions and one Protocol of the Hague Conference on Private International Law. At the...

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Turkey: Hague Conventions enter into force

Today, 1 February 2017, the 1996 Child Protection Convention and the 2007 Hague Child Support Convention entered into force for Turkey. 1996 Child Protection Convention 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 entered into force for Turkey on...

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Launch of iSupport - First Meeting of the iSupport Governing Body

On the occasion of its first meeting held on 18 and 19 January 2017 at the premises of the Permanent Bureau of the Hague Conference on Private International Law, the iSupport Governing Body officially launched iSupport. iSupport is an electronic case management and secure communication system. It allows an efficient, modern and timely recovery of child support and family maintenance in...

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Guatemala joins the Hague Apostille Convention

On 19 January 2017, the Republic of Guatemala deposited its instrument of accession to the Hague Convention of 5 October 1961 Abolishing the Requirement of Legalisation for Foreign Public Documents (the "Apostille Convention"), making it the 113th Contracting State to the Convention. Following the usual procedural steps, the Convention will enter into force for Guatemala on 18 September...

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