Romania signs the 2000 Protection of Adults Convention
Today, 29 August 2024, H.E. Mr Lucian Fătu, Ambassador of Romania to the Netherlands, signed, on behalf of Romania, the Convention of 13 January 2000 on the International Protection of Adults (2000 Protection of Adults Convention). The 2000 Protection of Adults Convention, which currently has 16 Contracting Parties, will enter into force for Romania only after it deposits an instrument of...
Bangladesh accedes to the 1961 Apostille Convention
Today, 29 July 2024, the People’s Republic of Bangladesh deposited its instrument of accession to the Convention of 5 October 1961 Abolishing the Requirement of Legalisation for Foreign Public Documents (1961 Apostille Convention). With the accession of Bangladesh, the 1961 Apostille Convention now has 127 Contracting Parties. It will enter into force for Bangladesh on 30 March 2025. More...
Meeting of the Special Commission (SC) on the Practical Operation of the 1965 Service, 1970 Evidence, and 1980 Access to Justice Conventions
From 2 to 5 July 2024, the Meeting of the SC on the Practical Operation of the 1965 Service, 1970 Evidence, and 1980 Access to Justice Conventions (Conventions) was held in The Hague. The meeting was attended by 260 delegates and other experts, in person and online, representing HCCH Members, non-Member Contracting Parties, and Observers, as well as by members of the Permanent Bureau (PB). It was...
Third Meeting of the Working Group established to complete the Country Profile and work on the draft Cooperation Request Recommended Model Form for the 1996 Child Protection Convention
In March 2024, the Council on General Affairs and Policy (CGAP) approved the establishment of a Working Group (WG) to first complete the Country Profile for the 1996 Child Protection Convention and then to progress work on the draft Cooperation Request Recommended Model Form under the 1996 Child Protection Convention (see Conclusion and Decisions Nos 23-24 of CGAP 2024). The third meeting...
Albania ratifies the 2005 Choice of Court Convention and the 2007 Maintenance Obligations Protocol
The Permanent Bureau has been informed that, on 25 June 2024, the Republic of Albania deposited its instrument of ratification of the Convention of 30 June 2005 on Choice of Court Agreements (2005 Choice of Court Convention) and the Protocol of 23 November 2007 on the Law Applicable to Maintenance Obligations (2007 Maintenance Obligations Protocol). With the ratification of Albania, 34...
Entry into force of Spanish as an additional official language of the HCCH
Today, 1 July 2024, marks the entry into force of Spanish as an additional official language of the HCCH. As of today, English, French, and Spanish are the three official languages of the Organisation. The Members of the HCCH took the historic decision to adopt Spanish as an official language in March 2023, during the annual meeting of the HCCH Council on General Affairs and Policy...
2005 Choice of Court Convention enters into force for Moldova
Today, 1 July 2024, the Convention of 30 June 2005 on Choice of Court Agreements (2005 Choice of Court Convention) entered into force for the Republic of Moldova, following the deposit of its instrument of accession on 14 March 2024. At present, 34 States and the European Union are bound by the 2005 Choice of Court Convention. More information on this Convention is available on the Choice...
1993 Adoption Convention enters into force for Angola
Today, 1 July 2024, the Convention of 29 May 1993 on Protection of Children and Co-operation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption (1993 Adoption Convention) entered into force for the Republic of Angola following the deposit of its instrument of accession on 14 March 2024. The 1993 Adoption Convention has 106 Contracting Parties. More information on this Convention is available on the Adoption...
First Working Meeting of the Experts’ Group on Central Bank Digital Currencies
In March 2024, the Council on General Affairs and Policy (CGAP) decided to establish an Experts’ Group to study the applicable law and jurisdiction issues raised by the cross-border use and transfers of CBDCs (see Conclusion & Decisions Nos 9 and 10 of CGAP 2024). Following on this decision, the Secretary General of the HCCH convoked the Experts’ Group on Central Bank Digital...
The United Kingdom ratifies the 2019 Judgments Convention
On 27 June 2024, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland deposited its instrument of ratification of the Convention of 2 July 2019 on the Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Judgments in Civil or Commercial Matters (2019 Judgments Convention). With the ratification of the United Kingdom, 30 HCCH Members are either bound by the 2019 Judgments Convention or a Contracting Party...