HCCH Monthly Update: March 2023
Conventions & Instruments
On 1 March 2023, the 1993 Adoption Convention entered into force for Botswana. The Convention currently has 105 Contracting Parties. More information is available here.
On 8 March 2023, China deposited its instrument of accession to the 1961 Apostille Convention and Malta deposited its instrument of ratification of the 2000 Protection of Adults Convention during the meeting of the Council on General Affairs and Policy. The 1961 Apostille Convention, which has 124 Contracting Parties, will enter into force for China on 7 November 2023. The Convention is already in force in the Hong Kong and Macao Special Administrative Regions of the People’s Republic of China. The 2000 Protection of Adults Convention, which has 15 Contracting Parties, will enter into force for Malta on 1 July 2023. More information is available here.
On 9 March 2023, the 1961 Apostille Convention entered into force for Pakistan. The Convention currently has 124 Contracting Parties. More information is available here.
On 20 March 2023, the 1961 Apostille Convention entered into force for Senegal. The Convention currently has 124 Contracting Parties. More information is available here.
Publications & Documentation
On 6 March 2023, the Permanent Bureau published the Practical Guide to Access to Justice for International Tourists and Visitors. More information is available here.
On 8 March 2023, the Permanent Bureau published the HCCH 2022 Annual Report. More information is available here.
Meetings & Events
From 7 to 10 March 2023, the Council on General Affairs and Policy (CGAP) of the HCCH met in The Hague, with over 450 participants joining both in person and online. HCCH Members reviewed progress made to date and agreed on the work programme for the year ahead in terms of normative, non-normative and governance work. More information is available here.
Among other important developments, during the meeting CGAP took the historic decision to adopt Spanish as an official language as of 1 July 2024, on which more information is available here. It also decided to recommend Dr Christophe Bernasconi to the Netherlands Standing Government Committee on Private International Law for the position of Secretary General, on which more information is available here.
On 22 March, the Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific of the HCCH hosted the webinar “HCCH 1961 Apostille Convention – Application and Future Prospects in the Asia Pacific Region”.
Upcoming Events
Registrations are open for the conference “The HCCH 2019 Judgments Convention: Cornerstones – Prospects – Outlook”, which will be held in person on 9 and 10 June 2023 at the University of Bonn in Germany. More information is available here.