Regional Workshop on Intercountry Adoption: Sharing Experiences on the Effective Implementation of the 1993 Adoption Convention in Africa

From 13 to 15 November 2024, the Regional Workshop on Intercountry Adoption: Sharing Experiences on the Effective Implementation of the 1993 Adoption Convention in Africa (Regional Workshop) was held in Lomé (Togo). It was attended by approximately 60 participants representing 11 Contracting Parties to the 1993 Adoption Convention, one non-Contracting Party, one intergovernmental...

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North Macedonia ratifies the 2005 Choice of Court Convention

Today, 21 November 2024, the Republic of North Macedonia deposited its instrument of ratification of the Convention of 30 June 2005 on Choice of Court Agreements (2005 Choice of Court Convention). With the ratification of North Macedonia, 36 States and the European Union are bound by the 2005 Choice of Court Convention. The Convention will enter into force for North Macedonia on 1 March 2025....

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Meeting of the Administrative Cooperation Working Group

On 13 November 2024, a meeting of the Administrative Cooperation Working Group (ACWG)  was held online, hosted by the Permanent Bureau (PB) in The Hague. The meeting was attended by 48 delegates and other experts, representing 23 HCCH Members and one Observer, as well as by members of the PB. Pursuant to its mandate, the ACWG continued its work as a forum for discussion of issues pertaining...

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Third Meeting of the Working Group on Parentage / Surrogacy

From 4 to 8 November 2024, the Working Group (WG) on Parentage / Surrogacy met for the third time. The meeting, held in hybrid format, was attended by 47 delegates and other experts, representing 25 HCCH Members and three Observers, as well as by members of the Permanent Bureau of the HCCH. Pursuant to its mandate, the WG continued its consideration of draft provisions for one new instrument on...

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Seventh Meeting of the Working Group on Jurisdiction

From 28 October to 1 November 2024, the Working Group (WG) on Matters Related to Jurisdiction in Transnational Civil or Commercial Litigation met for the seventh time. The meeting was held in person in Tokyo (Japan) with the possibility for online participation, in accordance with the mandate of the Council on General Affairs and Policy (C&Ds No 4-5). It was attended by 66 delegates and other...

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2007 Child Support Convention enters into force for Kyrgyzstan

On 1 November 2024, the Convention of 23 November 2007 on the International Recovery of Child Support and Other Forms of Family Maintenance (2007 Child Support Convention)  entered into force for the Kyrgyz Republic following the deposit of its instrument of accession on 27 October 2023. At present, 52 States and the European Union are bound by the 2007 Child Support...

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13th International Forum on the electronic Apostille Programme (e-APP)

On 21 and 22 October 2024, the 13th International Forum on the electronic Apostille Programme (e-APP) took place in Astana, Kazakhstan. The Forum was the first to be held in Central Asia and was jointly organised by the HCCH, the Ministry of Justice of Kazakhstan, and the Maqsut Narikbayev University (see Conclusion and Decision No 51 of CGAP 2024). The 13th e-APP Forum was conducted in a hybrid...

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Paraguay signs and ratifies the 2007 Child Support Convention and its Protocol

On 25 October 2024, H.E. Mr Enrique Miguel Franco Maciel, Ambassador of the Republic of Paraguay to the Kingdom of Belgium, signed and ratified, on behalf of Paraguay, 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...

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Publication of The Application of the 1996 Child Protection Convention to Unaccompanied and Separated Children — Update 2024

During the third meeting of the Thematic Dialogue Group on Transnational Procedures and Cooperation within the context of the Council of Europe Consultation Group on the Children of Ukraine, the Permanent Bureau announced the publication of The Application of the 1996 Child Protection Convention to Unaccompanied and Separated Children — Update 2024. The document deals with the application...

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