Post-Convention Work
To ensure the effective implementation and operation of its Conventions and instruments, the HCCH provides a range of post-Convention services.
Special Commission Meetings
The HCCH organises Special Commission meetings to review the practical operation of many of its core Conventions and instruments, adopting Conclusions & Recommendations (known as “C&Rs”) aimed at promoting best practices and improving their operation.
The HCCH organises Special Commission meetings to review the practical operation of many of its core Conventions and instruments, adopting Conclusions & Recommendations (known as “C&Rs”) aimed at promoting best practices and improving their operation.
Publications
HCCH Conventions and instruments are each accompanied by an Explanatory Report, providing information and guidance as to its interpretation and operation. The full negotiation history is recorded and published in the volumes of the Proceedings.
In addition, the HCCH has developed various Practical Handbooks, Guides to Good Practice and other publications. They are addressed to governmental authorities, academics, legal practitioners and the general public, with a view to not only promoting the Conventions and instruments, but also supporting their sound implementation and effective operation.
The full catalogue of HCCH publications is available here.
HCCH Conventions and instruments are each accompanied by an Explanatory Report, providing information and guidance as to its interpretation and operation. The full negotiation history is recorded and published in the volumes of the Proceedings.
In addition, the HCCH has developed various Practical Handbooks, Guides to Good Practice and other publications. They are addressed to governmental authorities, academics, legal practitioners and the general public, with a view to not only promoting the Conventions and instruments, but also supporting their sound implementation and effective operation.
The full catalogue of HCCH publications is available here.
Use of technology
Each HCCH Convention or instrument is drafted in a “technology neutral” manner, to the extent possible. This approach ensures that technologies not foreseen when the Conventions and instruments were negotiated can nonetheless be leveraged to facilitate their effective implementation and operation.
As part of its post-Convention work, the HCCH has a number of initiatives to support the use of available technological solutions and encourage States to do the same. These include:
Each HCCH Convention or instrument is drafted in a “technology neutral” manner, to the extent possible. This approach ensures that technologies not foreseen when the Conventions and instruments were negotiated can nonetheless be leveraged to facilitate their effective implementation and operation.
As part of its post-Convention work, the HCCH has a number of initiatives to support the use of available technological solutions and encourage States to do the same. These include:
- iSupport – electronic case management and secure communication system for the cross-border recovery of maintenance obligations under the EU 2009 Maintenance Regulation and the HCCH 2007 Child Support Convention.
- e-APP – the electronic Apostille Programme, aimed at facilitating the issuance of e-Apostilles and the electronic verification of both paper and e-Apostilles under the HCCH 1961 Apostille Convention.
- INCADAT – legal database of case law on international child abduction, aimed at facilitating access to cases, case summaries and legal analyses within the scope of application of the 1980 Child Abduction Convention.
Post-Convention assistance
States may also receive tailored support in the implementation and operation of HCCH Conventions in the form of post-Convention (technical) assistance, provided by the Permanent Bureau with the occasional involvement of external experts. These services are primarily offered to HCCH Members and are dependent on available resources and work programme priorities. This priority access to technical assistance is a major practical advantage of being a Member of the HCCH.
The provision of post-Convention technical assistance is governed by the Strategic Framework for Post-Convention Assistance.
States may also receive tailored support in the implementation and operation of HCCH Conventions in the form of post-Convention (technical) assistance, provided by the Permanent Bureau with the occasional involvement of external experts. These services are primarily offered to HCCH Members and are dependent on available resources and work programme priorities. This priority access to technical assistance is a major practical advantage of being a Member of the HCCH.
The provision of post-Convention technical assistance is governed by the Strategic Framework for Post-Convention Assistance.
Events
HCCH representatives regularly organise and participate in conferences, seminars, and workshops to promote the work of the Organisation and the effective operation of its Conventions and instruments.
HCCH representatives regularly organise and participate in conferences, seminars, and workshops to promote the work of the Organisation and the effective operation of its Conventions and instruments.
Selected post-Convention projects
ICATAP
Through the Intercountry Adoption Technical Assistance Programme (ICATAP), established in 2007, the HCCH provides assistance to certain States which are planning ratification of, or accession to, the 1993 Adoption Convention, or which have ratified or acceded to the 1993 Adoption Convention but need assistance with its implementation.
To date, over 35 States have received assistance under ICATAP. In 2021, the following assistance projects were implemented:
Through the Intercountry Adoption Technical Assistance Programme (ICATAP), established in 2007, the HCCH provides assistance to certain States which are planning ratification of, or accession to, the 1993 Adoption Convention, or which have ratified or acceded to the 1993 Adoption Convention but need assistance with its implementation.
To date, over 35 States have received assistance under ICATAP. In 2021, the following assistance projects were implemented:
- ICATAP Ecuador
- ICATAP Paraguay
HCCH a|Bridged
Since 2019, the HCCH a|Bridged series has convened experts and stakeholders from around the world to explore the work of the HCCH in the broader context of innovation in cross-border litigation and civil procedure.
Since 2019, the HCCH a|Bridged series has convened experts and stakeholders from around the world to explore the work of the HCCH in the broader context of innovation in cross-border litigation and civil procedure.
- HCCH a|Bridged - Edition 2019: 1965 Service Convention
- HCCH a|Bridged - Edition 2020: 1970 Evidence Convention
- HCCH a|Bridged - Edition 2021: 2005 Choice of Court Convention
Recognition and enforcement of judgments
The HCCH and the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ)
Through its Open Regional Fund for South East Europe – Legal Reform, and on behalf of the German Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, GIZ supports Ministries of Justice and Chambers of Enforcement Agents in SEE in promoting the exchange of knowledge and the use of good practices to improve the conditions for cross-border enforcement of judgments.
The HCCH’s cooperation with GIZ has resulted in the following outputs:
The HCCH and the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ)
Through its Open Regional Fund for South East Europe – Legal Reform, and on behalf of the German Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, GIZ supports Ministries of Justice and Chambers of Enforcement Agents in SEE in promoting the exchange of knowledge and the use of good practices to improve the conditions for cross-border enforcement of judgments.
The HCCH’s cooperation with GIZ has resulted in the following outputs:
- Organisation of six online seminars on the cross-border enforcement of foreign judgments in SEE, each focused on a specific SEE jurisdiction.
- Publication of the book "Cross-border Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Judicial Decisions in SEE and Perspectives of HCCH 2019 Judgments Convention”, comprised by reports from the SEE jurisdictions. This publication is available in English, Albanian, Macedonian and Bosnian-Serbian-Montenegrin.
- Translation of the Explanatory Report on the 2019 Judgments Convention, as well as of the subtitles for the short documentary on the adoption of the 2019 Judgments Convention at the 22nd Diplomatic Session, into Albanian, Macedonian and Bosnian-Serbian-Montenegrin.
- Organisation of the “Regional Forum “HCCH 2019 Judgments Convention: Prospects for the Western Balkans”, which took place from 30 June to 1 July 2022, in Skopje, North Marcedonia. The video of the Regional Forum is here.
The HCCH and the Center for International Legal Cooperation (CILC)
CILC promotes the rule of law by initiating and implementing international legal cooperation projects, bringing experts together from different countries to address and find solutions to challenging within developing legal systems.
The HCCH, in partnership with CILC, and with the support of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands, continues to facilitate the further consideration of the 2019 Judgments Convention in the Western Balkans.
To date, the HCCH’s cooperation with CILC has resulted in the following outputs:
- Organisation of seminar “Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Judgments in the Western Balkan Region: HCCH 2019 Judgments Convention”, which took place on 15 and 16 May 2023, in The Hague, the Netherlands.
HCCH Conference on Commercial, Digital and Financial Law Across Borders (CODIFI)
The inaugural HCCH CODIFI conference was held online from 12 to 16 September 2022. CODIFI examined issues of private international law in the Commercial, Digital, and Financial (CODIFI) sectors, highlighting developments in the digital economy and fintech industries as well as clarifying the roles of core HCCH instruments: the 1985 Trusts Convention, the 2006 Securities Convention, and the Principles on Choice of Law in International Commercial Contracts (Choice of Law Principles).
The inaugural HCCH CODIFI conference was held online from 12 to 16 September 2022. CODIFI examined issues of private international law in the Commercial, Digital, and Financial (CODIFI) sectors, highlighting developments in the digital economy and fintech industries as well as clarifying the roles of core HCCH instruments: the 1985 Trusts Convention, the 2006 Securities Convention, and the Principles on Choice of Law in International Commercial Contracts (Choice of Law Principles).
