HCCH Monthly Update: June 2023
Conventions & Instruments
On 23 June 2023, Paraguay deposited its instrument of accession to the 1965 Service Convention and the 1970 Evidence Convention. With the accession of Paraguay, the 1965 Service Convention now has 82 Contracting Parties. It will enter into force for Paraguay on 1 January 2024 subject to the Article 28 procedure. As for the 1970 Evidence Convention, with the accession of Paraguay it now has 66 Contracting Parties. It will enter into force for Paraguay on 22 August 2023. More information is available here.
Publications & Documentation
On 6 June 2023, the Permanent Bureau of the HCCH announced the publication of the Toolkit for Preventing and Addressing Illicit Practices in Intercountry Adoption. The Toolkit is intended to assist in the proper implementation and operation of the 1993 Adoption Convention, by providing practical guidelines on what must be done to identify, prevent, and address illicit practices and their enabling factors. More information is available here.
On 21 June 2023, the Permanent Bureau of the HCCH announced the publication of the HCCH’s Strategic Plan for 2023-2028. The Strategic Plan 2023-2028 outlines the mandate and mission of the HCCH, sets out the three strategic goals pursued by the Organisation to fulfil them, and enshrines the guiding principles behind all aspects of the HCCH’s operations. More information is available here.
Meetings & Events
On 9 and 10 June 2023, the Permanent Bureau of the HCCH and the University of Bonn, with the generous support of the Federal Ministry of Justice of Germany, successfully co-organised the Conference “The HCCH 2019 Judgments Convention: Cornerstones – Prospects – Outlook”, in Bonn, Germany. A book on the 2019 Judgments Convention was published in the lead up to the conference. The book can be ordered here.
On 12 June 2023, the kick-off meeting of the HCCH-UNIDROIT Joint Project on Law Applicable to Cross-Border Holdings and Transfers of Digital Assets and Tokens was held in The Hague in hybrid format. The Joint Project will examine the desirability of developing coordinated guidance and the feasibility of a normative framework on the law applicable to cross-border holdings and transfers of digital assets and tokens, covering relevant private law aspects. More information is available here.
On 15 June, the Permanent Bureau of the HCCH organised a conference on “The HCCH and its relevance for Africa” for Ambassadors of African States to the Kingdom of the Netherlands, with the generous support of the Municipality of The Hague.
On 27 June 2027, the Permanent Bureau of the HCCH and the Asian Business Law Institute co-hosted the webinar “Cross-border Commercial Dispute Resolution – HCCH 1965 Service Convention”. Among other topics, the discussion focused on the Service Convention’s interaction with other HCCH Conventions for cross-border dispute resolution, the Convention’s operation in practice, and Singapore’s accession to the Convention.
From 26 to 28 June 2023, the Working Group on the Financial Aspects of Intercountry Adoption met for the first time. The mandate of the Working Group is to take stock of current practices, identify possible coordinated, targeted, practical approaches, and to prioritise them with the aim of raising standards. More information is available here.
Upcoming Events
Save-the-date: On 5 October 2023, the Permanent Bureau of the HCCH will organise an online colloquium on the private international law implications of Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs). More information will be available soon.
These monthly updates are published by the Permanent Bureau of the Hague Conference on Private International Law (HCCH), providing an overview of the latest developments. More information and materials are available on the HCCH website.