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HCCH - Hague Conference on Private International Law

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The Hague
HCCH - Hague Conference on Private International Law

The World Organisation for Cross-Border Cooperation in Civil and Commercial Matters

Since 1893, the Hague Conference on Private International Law (HCCH), a melting pot of different legal traditions, has developed and serviced Conventions which respond to global needs in international family and child protection, international legal cooperation and transnational litigation, and international commercial and financial law. Please note that the HCCH Permanent Bureau has neither the m

andate nor resources to respond to individual requests for assistance. For information related to your enquiry, please visit our website: www.hcch.net.

04/09/2026

🇨🇱 This week, Dr Christophe Bernasconi, Secretary General of the HCCH, delivered pre-recorded remarks at an event celebrating the tenth anniversary of the entry into force of the 1961 Apostille Convention in Chile.

Chile acceded to the Apostille Convention in 2015, and the Convention entered into force for Chile on 30 August 2016. Since then, more than ten million Apostilles have been issued in Chile. In his remarks, Dr Bernasconi congratulated the Government of Chile on its remarkably successful implementation and operation of the Apostille Convention. Among the strengths of Chile’s approach, Dr Bernasconi noted its early implementation of e-Apostilles and an e-Register, the issuance of Apostilles free of charge, and its decentralised system.

Chile’s experience over the past decade demonstrates the significant results that can be achieved through the effective implementation of the Apostille Convention and the e-APP, making document authentication simpler, more accessible, and more secure for all parties.

04/09/2026

🗓️Save the date! “Training Tomorrow’s Lawyers”, a conference in sponsorship of the International Child Abduction Database (INCADAT), will be held in London on 14 January 2027.

The conference is organised by Dawson Cornwell and Harcourt Chambers, with the support of the Permanent Bureau of the HCCH.

ℹ️Further information regarding the programme and registration will be announced shortly.

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01/09/2026

On 21 August 2026, the HCCH Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific and the Hong Kong International Legal Talent Training Academy co-hosted the Workshop on Use of International Legal Instruments in Cross-Border Commercial Disputes and in the Digital Economy, held on the margins of the APEC 2026 Third Senior Officials' Meeting. The workshop was attended by around 40 government officials, scholars, and legal professionals from APEC economies.

The workshop opened with a discussion on the modernisation of the cross-border authentication of public documents through the electronic Apostille Programme (the e-APP). Speakers noted the surge in issuance following the implementation of the e-Apostille in their jurisdiction (Hong Kong SAR, China); highlighted the benefits of Verifiable Digital Credentials for near-instant verification (Singapore); and explained how the e-Apostille has been embedded within broader digital transformation efforts (Philippines). They also underscored the e-APP’s contribution to facilitating international trade and strengthening document security.

Attention then turned to streamlining transnational litigation. Speakers from Indonesia, Macao SAR (China), the Republic of Korea, and Thailand highlighted the significant contribution of the Service and Evidence Conventions, which have largely replaced slower diplomatic channels with more efficient and streamlined procedures. Looking ahead, they noted that the challenges of the digital era —from unlocatable defendants to cloud-based evidence — call for an embrace of technological solutions, including e-service and video-link, to facilitate the transmission and ex*****on of requests for service and the taking of evidence.

The discussions also covered broader digital developments, with experts exchanging views on the Trusts Convention’s application in the context of cryptocurrencies and AI, as well as on Digital Product Passports, cross-border crypto disputes, smart contracts and DAOs.

Across the board, the discussions highlighted how existing instruments can provide legal certainty in the digital era and encouraged concerted regional engagement in shaping international legal frameworks.

01/09/2026

Last week, First Secretary Philippe Lortie and Legal Officer Nietta Keane attended the Third Expert’s Meeting (EMIII) on “International Child Abduction - Nurturing the 1980 Hague Convention: Existing and Future Strategies”, held at the University of Westminster, London, on 26-28 August 2026. EMIII was co-convened by Professors Marilyn Freeman and Nicola Taylor.

Like its previous iterations, EMIII brought together a wide variety of experts and practitioners to discuss the operation of the 1980 Convention, including judges, lawyers, psychologists as well as representatives from civil society and non-governmental organisations.

Participants discussed asylum, domestic abuse, identity and child participation as they relate to international child abduction, exchanged good practices on prevention, and considered how relocation as well as proper after-care following the conclusion of return proceedings can affect the experience of the families involved. Discussions also highlighted the need for further interdisciplinary research into the outcomes of both return and non-return decisions to inform the work of relevant actors, including judges. The final day of EMIII was devoted to discussing practical and creative solutions, with a focus on how all stakeholders can assist in the continued nurturing of the 1980 Convention. Participants discussed various components of this “continued nurturing” in breakout groups, with each group diving into one of the several issues addressed during the meeting. Groups then presented their ideas and strategies to the plenary.

First Secretary Lortie spoke to participants about how the international community can help in the lead-up to the next Special Commission on the practical operation of the 1980 and 1996 Conventions. Legal Officer Keane served as the meeting rapporteur.

31/08/2026

On 28 August, Dr Gérardine Goh Escolar, Deputy Secretary General of the HCCH, participated in the workshop “Central Bank Digital Currencies in Legal Perspectives”, held at the Max Planck Institute for Comparative and International Private Law in Hamburg.

The workshop examined the legal implications of Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs) at the convergence of public and private law, with the aim of deepening scholarly understanding of the institutional and legal frameworks necessary for the development and governance of CBDCs.

It was organised by the institute with the support of Koç University, Philipps-Universität Marburg, and the Institut für das Recht der Digitalisierung, in the context of the research project “Central Bank Digital Currencies from a Legal Perspective”, funded by the Scientific and Technological Research Council of Türkiye (TÜBİTAK).

At the start of the workshop, setting the stage for the panel discussions ahead, Dr Goh Escolar delivered a keynote address titled “The Legal Architecture for Central Bank Digital Currencies: How the Cross-Border Dimension Is Reshaping Digital Money”. Dr Goh Escolar’s keynote focused on the private international law issues arising from the cross-border use of CBDCs and the need to complement technical interoperability with legal interoperability. The outcomes of the conference will also be reported to the HCCH Experts’ Group on CBDCs at its sixth meeting, which will be held from 1 – 4 September 2026.

More information on the HCCH’s CBDCs Project is available here: https://www.hcch.net/en/projects/legislative-projects/cbdcs

28/08/2026

This week, Dr Ning Zhao, Principal Legal Officer at the HCCH, participated in the International Conference on Balancing Creditor Rights and Debtor Protection in Modern Civil Enforcement Systems, hosted by the Ministry of Justice in Thailand from 26 to 28 August.

At the conference, Dr Zhao took part in a panel discussion on cross border enforcement through international cooperation, along with Professor Wisit Wisitsora-At, Chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission of Thailand, Mr Nelinho Vital, Director General of Justice Policy Affairs at the Ministry of Justice of Timor-Leste, and Mr Patrick Gielen, Secretary General of the International Union of Judicial Officers.

The discussion, moderated by Ms Sarinya Panomwan Na Ayudhya, Legal Officer in Practitioner Level at the Ministry of Justice of Thailand, examined issues such as mutual recognition of foreign judgments, inter-agency coordination, and information exchange, as well as challenges in tracing assets across jurisdictions, the use of digital tools to improve efficiency, and the protection of parties’ rights.

Dr Zhao’s intervention examined the practical relevance of the 2019 Judgments Convention in the context of cross-border asset recovery, where it provides framework for judgments issued in one jurisdiction to be recognised and enforced in other jurisdictions.

26/08/2026

The Permanent Bureau (PB) of the HCCH is pleased to announce the publication of the Note on the Application and Interpretation of Article 2 of the 1985 Trusts Convention and on the Institutions Analogous to Trusts.

The Note is intended to serve as reference material for legal practitioners dealing with issues relating to the application and interpretation of the Convention and, in particular, the question of whether an institution may meet the criteria set out in Article 2 of the Convention.

This publication was finalised by a Working Group established in 2025 at the request of the Council on General Affairs and Policy of the HCCH, building on preparatory work undertaken by the PB. The PB thanks the Chair and members of the Working Group who, through their expertise and valuable input, contributed to the finalisation of the Note.

For more information, and to download the Note, please visit: https://www.hcch.net/en/news-archive/details/?varevent=1165

25/08/2026

The Permanent Bureau (PB) of the HCCH is pleased to announce the publication of Vol. XXVIII / Spring-Summer 2026 of the Judges' Newsletter on International Child Protection.

This latest edition of the Judges’ Newsletter focuses on the second Experts’ Meeting on the Continued Nurturing of the 1980 Hague Convention, convened and organised by Professor Marilyn Freeman and Professor Nicola Taylor, which was held at the University of Westminster in London from 4 to 5 August 2025.

This edition of the Newsletter also reports on the Fourth Global Meeting of the International Hague Network of Judges (IHNJ), which took place from 19 to 21 May 2025 in Singapore, and shares an article co-authored by Brazilian IHNJ Members Guilherme Calmon Nogueira da Gama and Inês Virgínia Prado Soares, reporting on the recent activities of the IHNJ Members in Brazil.

For more information, and to download this publication, please visit: https://www.hcch.net/en/news-archive/details/?varevent=1164

17/08/2026

On 26 August, the Business Law Institute (ABLI) will host the conference “Bridging Laws For Business — A Decade Advancing Trade, Technology and Trust”, celebrating its 10th anniversary and the 11th anniversary of the entry into force of the HCCH 2005 Choice of Court Convention.

The conference will be held in hybrid format in Singapore from 9.15 a.m. to 1.00 p.m. (Singapore time).

The Hon Chief Justice of Singapore, Sundaresh Menon, and the Secretary General of the HCCH, Dr Christophe Bernasconi, will open the conference with keynote addresses, followed by two panel discussions and one presentation.

The first panel of the conference will examine the operation of the 2005 Choice of Court Convention in the context of today’s evolving transnational dispute resolution landscape. The speakers for this panel will include Dr Christophe Bernasconi (HCCH), Assoc Prof Adeline Chong (Singapore Management University), the Hon Justice David Goddard KC (Singapore International Commercial Court), Ms Delphia Lim (Ministry of Law of Singapore), and Mr Colin Seow (Colin Seow Chambers).

The second panel of the conference will provide a “cradle to grave” review of cryptoasset
disputes in ASEAN, featuring Mr Paul Papon Charoenpao (PDLegal), Ms Sapna Jhangiani KC (Blackstone Chambers), Ms Wendy Lin (WongPartnership), Mr Pham Viet Tuan (Indochine Counsel), and Ms Dewi Savitri Reni (SSEK Law Firm).

In between the two panels, Dr Gérardine Goh Escolar, Deputy Secretary General of the HCCH, will deliver a presentation titled “Beyond the Token: Private International Law and the Legal Architecture of Digitally Mediated Markets”.
For more information, and to register, please visit: https://www.eventbrite.sg/e/bridging-laws-for-business-a-decade-advancing-trade-technology-and-trust-tickets-1988891320479
Interested persons are invited to register by Thursday, 20 August 2026.

11/08/2026

Indonesia has just become the 94th Member of the HCCH!

At the ceremony, held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands, depositary of the HCCH Conventions, the delegation of the Republic of Indonesia was led by H.E. Mr Widodo, Director General of Legal Administrative Affairs at the Ministry of Law and H.E. Mr Suhendar, Director General of International Law and Treaties of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The depositary was represented by Mr Jules van Eijndhoven, Head of the Treaties Division, and Mr Rieks Boekholt, Senior Legal Officer at the Treaties Division. The Permanent Bureau of the HCCH was represented by Dr Christophe Bernasconi, Secretary General and his Legal Attaché, Dr Louwrens Kiestra.

The Permanent Bureau is pleased to welcome Indonesia as a new HCCH Member and looks forward to supporting its authorities in ensuring Indonesia’s active and meaningful participation in the work of the Organisation.

For more information, please visit: https://www.hcch.net/de/news-archive/details/?varevent=1163

Adres

Churchillplein 6b
The Hague
2517JW

Openingstijden

Maandag	09:00 - 17:00
Dinsdag	09:00 - 17:00
Woensdag	09:00 - 17:00
Donderdag	09:00 - 17:00
Vrijdag	09:00 - 17:00

Website

http://www.hcch.net/

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