Details

On 21 and 22 October 2024, the 13^th 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 13^th e-APP Forum was conducted in a hybrid format and attended by over 300 participants, representing 70 Contracting Parties and three non-Contracting Parties to the Apostille Convention. The Forum was also attended by interested members of the public, private companies and organisations.

The Forum included five sessions featuring experts from 14 Contracting Parties to the Apostille Convention. Following the opening address, the first session of the Forum included a presentation by the Permanent Bureau (PB) on the Apostille Convention and an overview of the e-APP. It also featured a presentation by officials from the Republic of Kazakhstan, as well as a panel discussion on the implementation and operation of the e-Register component of the e-APP. The second session consisted of presentations delivered by officials from the United Kingdom and the states of Kentucky and Montana (USA), along with a presentation on the potential integration of new technologies to the operation of the e-APP. The third session included a presentation by the PB on the resources available to Contracting Parties wishing to implement the e-APP, as well as the role played by the PB in facilitating this process. This was followed by a panel discussion with Contracting Parties who have recently implemented or are in the process of implementing one or both components of the e-APP. In the fourth session, another informative panel discussion focused on the steps required to implement the e-APP, including promotional and educational measures taken by Contracting Parties. Finally, the last session included a discussion about the potential of the e-APP to offer solutions for e-Government and the use of new and future technologies.

The presentations at the Forum emphasised the crucial role played by the e-APP in modernising and streamlining the process of obtaining Apostilles. Participants highlighted the pressing need to incorporate technology into the operation of the Apostille Convention, as digital solutions not only improve the issuance and verification of Apostilles but also facilitate accessibility for users worldwide. Discussions demonstrated that by transitioning from traditional paper-based methods to electronic systems, the e-APP enhances efficiency, reduces costs, and minimises the risk of document fraud (see Conclusion & Recommendation No 6).

The 13^th e-APP Forum adopted Conclusions & Recommendations, which are available on the Apostille Section of the HCCH website, together with a number of presentations delivered during the Forum.

The PB of the HCCH is grateful to the Ministry of Justice of Kazakhstan and the Maqsut Narikbayev University for their hospitality and generous support.