HCCH - The Judges’ Newsletter on International Child Protection - Vol. XXV - Spring-Summer 2024

The Connecter Protéger Coopérer Depuis 1893 Connecting Protecting Cooperating Since 1893 Conectando Protegiendo Cooperando Desde 1893 on International Child Protection Special Focus The Eighth Meeting of the Special Commission on the Practical Operation of the 1980 Child Abduction Convention and the 1996 Child Protection Convention 10-17 October 2023 Volume XXV | Spring-Summer 2024www.hcch.net Newsletter Judges’Special Focus The Eighth Meeting of the Special Commission on the Practical Operation of the 1980 Child Abduction Convention and the 1996 Child Protection Convention

10-17 October 2023

Volume XXV | Spring – Summer 2024

A publication of the Hague Conference on Private International Law2 | The Judges’ Newsletter Volume XXV | Spring – Summer 2024

Participants to the Eighth Meeting of the Special Commission (SC) on the Practical Operation of the 1980 Child Abduction Convention and the 1996 Child Protection Convention (10-17 October 2023), The Hague Academy of International Law (Peace Palace, The Hague)Special Focus: Eighth Meeting of the Special Commission on the 1980 and 1996 Conventions | 3 Volume XXV | Spring – Summer 2024 Foreword This edition of the Judges’ Newsletter on International Child Protection is dedicated to the Conclusions and Recommendations (C&Rs) adopted during the Eighth Meeting of the Special Commission (2023 SC) on the practical operation of the Convention of 25 October 1980 on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction (1980 Child Abduction Convention or 1980 Convention) and the Convention of 19 October 1996 on Jurisdiction, Applicable Law, Recognition, Enforcement and Co-operation in respect of Parental Responsibility and Measures for the Protection of Children (1996 Child Protection Convention or 1996 Convention), which took place

Convention) and the Convention of 19 October 1996 on Jurisdiction, Applicable Law, Recognition, Enforcement and Co-operation in respect of Parental Responsibility and Measures for the Protection of Children (1996 Child Protection Convention or 1996 Convention), which took place from 10 to 17 October 2023. This Judges'Newsletter provides context and insight into the background of the discussions during the 2023 SC that ultimately led to the language of the adopted C&Rs. In order to facilitate the work of delegations participating in the 2023 SC, the Permanent Bureau of the HCCH (PB) prepared three types of documents. Preliminary Documents (Prel. Docs) were prepared to provide a degree of analysis on certain issues to be discussed at the meeting and to provide some suggestions for possible C&Rs, to serve as a starting point for discussions. These Prel. Docs are publicly available on the specialised SC site on the HCCH website (please click here). A number of Working Documents (Work. Docs) were prepared by the PB in advance of the 2023 SC, in order to assist participants by providing all relevant extracts from Conventions and accompanying documentation (i.e., Explanatory Reports, Practical Handbook, Guides to Good Practice), responses to questionnaires, as well as existing C&Rs and relevant jurisprudence. Work. Docs were also submitted prior to and during the course of the 2023 SC by the PB and delegations, in order to facilitate discussions and make proposals. Information Documents (Info. Docs), shared with participants prior to and during the meeting, were not intended for discussion but rather aimed to provide delegates with additional details and context pertaining to a wide variety of topics. Info. Docs included, but were not limited to, input from observers and are publicly available on the HCCH website. The Work. Docs submitted in advance of, and during, the 2023 SC were made available only to delegates via the secure portal of the HCCH website. As such, unlike Prel. Docs and Info. Docs, they are not publicly available. This Newsletter follows the structure of the agenda of the SC and, as a result,

made available only to delegates via the secure portal of the HCCH website. As such, unlike Prel. Docs and Info. Docs, they are not publicly available. This Newsletter follows the structure of the agenda of the SC and, as a result, the C&R document, which can be found on the specialised SC site on the HCCH website (please click here). Written by Edited by Nietta Keane Philippe Lortie (English version) Lydie De Loof (French version)4 | The Judges’ Newsletter Volume XXV | Spring – Summer 2024

@HCCH, 2024

Hague Conference on Private International Law (HCCH) Permanent Bureau Churchillplein 6b 2517 JW The Hague, Netherlands

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Attribution should be as follows: HCCH, “Special Focus – The Eighth Meeting of the Special Commission on the Practical Operation of the 1980 Child Abduction Convention and the 1996 Child Protection Convention”, The Judges’ Newsletter on International Child Protection, Vol. XXV, The Hague, 2024.

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Adaptation, translation and other derivatives of this publication are prohibited in any way, unless explicit permission is granted by the Permanent Bureau. Please contact the Permanent Bureau at secretariat@hcch.net to obtain permission. Upon receiving a request, the Permanent Bureau will review it in good faith and respond within a reasonable timeframe. Approval for translation or adaptation is at the Permanent Bureau’s discretion and is subject to compliance with th e terms of the CC BY -NC-ND 4.0 licence, including proper attribution, non-commercial use, and no alterations to the original work. Please note that submitting a translation / adaptation request does not guarantee approval, and the Permanent Bureau reserves the right to deny requests for any reason. For further inquiries or clarification, please contact secretariat@hcch.net. The decision to grant or deny translation / adaptation requests does not constitute legal advice. The user should seek legal counsel if they have questions about their rights and obligations under the CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 licence.

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Published in The Hague, the Netherlands5 | The Judges’ Newsletter Volume XXV | Spring – Summer 2024 Table of Contents Foreword .................................................................................................................................................................................................. 3 Table of Contents ............................................................................................................................................................................... 5 Special Focus ........................................................................................................................................................................................ 8

I. Contracting Parties to the 1980 Child Abduction Convention ...................................... 8

II. Evaluating and taking stock of the 1980 Child Abduction Convention ......................................................................................................................................................... 8

III. Addressing delays under the 1980 Child Abduction Convention ............................ 12

I. Contracting Parties to the 1980 Child Abduction Convention ...................................... 8

II. Evaluating and taking stock of the 1980 Child Abduction Convention ......................................................................................................................................................... 8

III. Addressing delays under the 1980 Child Abduction Convention ............................ 12

1. Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the 1980 Child Abduction Convention, in particular the use of information technology .................................................................................................................................................................... 12

2. Delays under the 1980 Child Abduction Convention ......................................... 13

IV. Relationship of the 1980 Child Abduction Convention with other international instruments – 1989 UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) ...................................................................................................................................... 17

1. Best interests of the child ....................................................................................................... 17 2. 2011 Optional Protocol to the UNCRC on a Communications Procedure .................................................................................................................................................................... 18

V. Legal aid and representation under the 1980 Child Abduction Convention ....................................................................................................................................................... 19

VI. Direct judicial communications and the International Hague Network of Judges (IHNJ) ..................................................................................................................... 21

VII. 25th Anniversary of the International Hague Network of Judges (IHNJ) ................................................................................................................................................. 22

VIII. Exceptions to the return of the child under the 1980 Child Abduction Convention and protective measures upon return .................................. 23

1. Article 13(1)(b) of the 1980 Child Abduction Convention – Domestic violence / family violence ............................................................................. 24

2. Possible forum on domestic violence and Article 13(1)(b) of the 1980 Child Abduction Convention ......................................................................... 26

3. Article 13(1)(b) of the 1980 Child Abduction Convention – Safe return, including urgent measures of protection....................................... 27

4. Court undertakings .....................................................................................................................29

5. Hearing the child ......................................................................................................................... 30

IX. Processing of return applications under the 1980 Child Abduction Convention ....................................................................................................................................................... 31

1. Return applications where the taking parent lodged a parallel asylum claim ............................................................................................................ 32

4. Court undertakings .....................................................................................................................29

5. Hearing the child ......................................................................................................................... 30

IX. Processing of return applications under the 1980 Child Abduction Convention ....................................................................................................................................................... 31

1. Return applications where the taking parent lodged a parallel asylum claim ............................................................................................................ 32

2. Determination of wrongful removal (Arts 8, 14 and 15) ...................................... 33

X. Rights of custody, access / contact under the 1980 Child Abduction Convention ............................................................................................................................. 356 | The Judges’ Newsletter Volume XXV | Spring – Summer 2024

1. Access / contact – Central Authority services under the 1980 Child Abduction Convention (Art. 21) and the 1996 Child Protection Convention (Arts 32, 34 and 35) ........................... 36

XI. Tools to assist with the implementation of the 1980 Child Abduction Convention ............................................................................................................................. 37

1. Revised Request for Return Recommended Model Form and new Request for Access Recommended Model Form .......................... 37

2. Revised Country Profile under the 1980 Child Abduction Convention ....................................................................................................................................... 38

XII. Mediation as relevant to the 1980 Child Abduction (Art. 7(c)) and 1996 Child Protection (Art. 31(b)) Conventions ...................................................................... 38

XIII. International family relocation as relevant to the 1980 Child Abduction and 1996 Child Protection Conventions .......................................................... 40

XIV. Contracting Parties to the 1996 Child Protection Convention .................................... 41

XV. Evaluating and taking stock of the 1996 Child Protection Convention ....................................................................................................................................................... 42

1. Scope of application of the 1996 Child Protection Convention ................................. 42

1. Measures of protection ............................................................................................................ 42

2. Articles 31(c), 32(b) and 34 of the 1996 Child Protection Convention ........................................................................................................................................ 42

1. Jurisdiction issues under the 1996 Child Protection Convention ............................. 43

1. Measures of protection ............................................................................................................ 42

2. Articles 31(c), 32(b) and 34 of the 1996 Child Protection Convention ........................................................................................................................................ 42

1. Jurisdiction issues under the 1996 Child Protection Convention ............................. 43

1. The rules on jurisdiction form a complete and closed system which applies as an integral whole to Contracting Parties ................................................................................................................................................... 43

2. Change of habitual residence under Articles 5(2), 34 and 36 of the 1996 Child Protection Convention ............................................................. 44

3. Definition of “urgency” under Article 11 of the 1996 Child Protection Convention .............................................................................................................. 45

4. Communication regarding jurisdiction issues and direct judicial communications (Arts 5-12 and 44) ............................................................... 45

5. Transfer of jurisdiction under Articles 8 and 9 of the 1996 Child Protection Convention ................................................................................... 46

1. Applicable law under the 1996 Child Protection Convention .................................... 48

1. Determining parental responsibility and rights of custody ........................... 48

1. Recognition and enforcement of measures of protection under the 1996 Child Protection Convention ........................................................................................ 48

1. Recognition of measures by operation of law under Article 23(1) of the 1996 Child Protection Convention.................................................................... 48

2. Enforcement of measures in accordance with the law of the requested State to the extent provided by such law under Articles 26 and 28 of the 1996 Child Protection Convention ........ 49Special Focus: Eighth Meeting of the Special Commission on the 1980 and 1996 Conventions | 7

Volume XXV | Spring – Summer 2024

3. Describing the grounds of jurisdiction and the measures of protection in the decision to facilitate its recognition and enforcement ..................................................................................................................................... 51

XX. Cooperation and general provisions under the 1996 Child Protection Convention ............................................................................................................................. 51

1. Elements to consider as to where to establish a Central Authority under the 1996 Child Protection Convention ........................................................... 51

protection in the decision to facilitate its recognition and enforcement ..................................................................................................................................... 51

XX. Cooperation and general provisions under the 1996 Child Protection Convention ............................................................................................................................. 51

1. Elements to consider as to where to establish a Central Authority under the 1996 Child Protection Convention ........................................................... 51

2. General duty to cooperate under Article 30 of the 1996 Child Protection Convention .................................................................................... 52

2. Consideration of the development of a certificate for Article 40 ..................................................................................................................................... 53

1. Placement or provision of care of the child in another Contracting Party under Articles 3(e) and 33 of the 1996 Child Protection Convention ....................................................................................................................................................... 53

1. General Procedure ...................................................................................................................... 54

2. Scope of Articles 3(e) and 33 of the 1996 Child Protection Convention ........................................................................................................................................ 54

3. Future work ....................................................................................................................................... 57

1. Unaccompanied and separated children and the application of the 1996 Child Protection Convention ......................................................................................... 57
2. Tools to assist with the implementation of the 1996 Child Protection Convention ............................................................................................................................ 58

1. Draft Cooperation Request Recommended Model Form under the 1996 Child Protection Convention .......................................................... 58

2. Draft Country Profile for the 1996 Child Protection Convention ....................................................................................................................................... 59

1. Benefits and use of the 1996 Child Protection Convention in relation to the 1980 Child Abduction Convention............................................................... 60
2. Central Authorities designated under the 1980 Child Abduction and 1996 Child Protection Conventions .................................................................................... 62
3. The Malta Process ..................................................................................................................................... 62
4. Permanent Bureau services ............................................................................................................... 63

1. INCADAT ............................................................................................................................................ 63

2. Practitioners’ Tool ........................................................................................................................ 64 3. e-Country Profiles project (EU action grant funded project) ....................... 64

1. Other business ............................................................................................................................................. 65

1. Immigration issues and criminal proceedings ....................................................... 65

1. INCADAT ............................................................................................................................................ 63

2. Practitioners’ Tool ........................................................................................................................ 64 3. e-Country Profiles project (EU action grant funded project) ....................... 64

1. Other business ............................................................................................................................................. 65

1. Immigration issues and criminal proceedings ....................................................... 65

2. Evidence-based research ..................................................................................................... 65

3. Measures to prevent international child abduction ............................................ 668 | The Judges’ Newsletter Volume XXV | Spring – Summer 2024

Special Focus Conclusions & Recommendations adopted during the Eighth Meeting of the Special Commission on the Practical Operation of the 1980 Child Abduction Convention and the 1996 Child Protection Convention.

I. Contracting Parties to the 1980 Child Abduction Convention

1. The SC welcomed the five new Contracting Parties to the 1980 Child Abduction Convention for which the Convention entered into force since the 2017 Seventh Meeting of the SC (2017 SC) namely, Barbados, Botswana, Cabo Verde, Cuba, and Guyana, bringing the total number of Contracting Parties to the Convention to 103. The SC encouraged States that have not yet joined the 1980 Child Abduction Convention to do so.

2. The SC reminded newly acceding States of their obligation to designate a Central Authority. They were also reminded of the need to complete the Standard Questionnaire for Newly Acceding States and to complete the Country Profile in order to facilitate the acceptance of their accession.

After the election of the co-Chairs, welcome and introductory remarks, the presentation of the documentation available to participants and the adoption of the agenda, the 2023 SC welcomed the States that became parties to the 1980 Convention since the Seventh meeting of the Special Commission in 2017 (2017 SC).

The 2023 SC unanimously reaffirmed the C&Rs from its previous meetings, as set out in Prel. Doc. No 1 of October 2022 , which provided a “Draft Table of Conclusions and

of the Special Commission in 2017 (2017 SC).

The 2023 SC unanimously reaffirmed the C&Rs from its previous meetings, as set out in Prel. Doc. No 1 of October 2022 , which provided a “Draft Table of Conclusions and Recommendations of previous Meetings of the Special Commission (SC) on the practical operation of the 1980 Child Abduction and the 1996 Child Protection Conventions that are still relevant today”.

II. Evaluating and taking stock of the 1980 Child Abduction Convention

3. The SC acknowledged the responses to the Questionnaire on the practical operation of the 1980 Child Abduction Convention which confirmed that, in general, the Convention is operating effectively.

4. The SC reaffirmed the utility of accurate statistics for the effective evaluation of the operation of the 1980 Child Abduction Convention and welcomed the statistical study of cases under the Convention for the year 2021 (Prel. Docs Nos 19A and 19B) compiled by N igel Lowe and Victoria Stephens. To this end, the SC noted that the data from 2021 seem likely to have been affected by the COVID -19 pandemic.

The SC noted the increase in the average number of days it took to reach a final decision, the increase in the pr oportion of refusals to return, the small decrease in the proportion of cases going to court, the increase in the proportion of cases being settled outside court,Special Focus: Eighth Meeting of the Special Commission on the 1980 and 1996 Conventions | 9 Volume XXV | Spring – Summer 2024

and that the proportion of refusals to return on the basis of the Article 13(1)(b) exception had almost doubled compared with the results of the 2015 statistical study. The SC expressed its thanks to the People’s Republic of China, Germany, the Philippines and the United Kingdom, the International Centre for Missing and Exploited Children (ICMEC), and the US Friends of the Hague Conference Foundation for their kind voluntary financial contributions to the statistical study.

People’s Republic of China, Germany, the Philippines and the United Kingdom, the International Centre for Missing and Exploited Children (ICMEC), and the US Friends of the Hague Conference Foundation for their kind voluntary financial contributions to the statistical study.

This agenda item aimed to provide participants of the 2023 SC with information on the status of the 1980 Convention since the 2017 SC. New Contracting States to the 1980 Convention and responses to the Questionnaire on the 1980 Convention. Since the 2017 SC, five States acceded to the 1980 Convention, namely in chronological order, Cuba, Guyana, Barbados, Cabo Verde and Botswana, bringing the total number of Contracting States to 103. It was further noted that, presently, there are 54 States who are Contracting States to both the 1980 Convention and 1996 Convention.

The SC encouraged new Contracting States that acceded to the 1980 Convention to designate Central Authorities and to complete the Standard Questionnaire for Newly Acceding States and the Country Profile.

The PB presented some key findings from the responses received to the 2023 Questionnaire on the practical operation of the 1980 Convention (Questionnaire on the 1980 Convention ). Although issues regarding the implementation of the 1980 Convention appear to be continuously improving, some ongoing challenges persist, namely issues pertaining to delays in return proceedings, discovering the whereabouts of child ren and issues in achieving the most effective and efficient cooperation between authorities. According to the responses to the questionnaire, some ways to support the implementation of the Convention could include the concentration of jurisdiction, specialised training for judges and electronic case management systems. 2021 Statistical Study Nigel Lowe QC (Hon), Emeritus Professor of Law (Cardiff University) & Victoria Stephens, Freelance Research Consultant (Lyon, France)

This is the fifth research study on the operation of the 1980 Convention conducted by Professor Nigel Lowe and Mrs Victoria Stephens , which builds on the findings of previous

Nigel Lowe QC (Hon), Emeritus Professor of Law (Cardiff University) & Victoria Stephens, Freelance Research Consultant (Lyon, France)

This is the fifth research study on the operation of the 1980 Convention conducted by Professor Nigel Lowe and Mrs Victoria Stephens , which builds on the findings of previous studies conducted in 1999, 2003, 2008 and 2015 to provide an analysis of statistical trends over a 22 - year period. Professor Lowe presented the global and regional reports on the Statistical Study of applications made in 2021 under the 1980 Convention.

As in previous studies, the 2021 study was based on information provided by Central Authorities in response to a questionnaire, particularly in relation to the number of applications received, the “taking persons” (e.g., their relationship with the child / children) in return applications and the “respondents” in access applications, the children involved (e.g., their age and the number of children involved in each case), the outcomes of the applications, and the length of time it took to reach a final outcome. Since CGAP mandated the discontinua tion of INCASTAT at its 2021 meeting (C&D No 19 ), the questionnaire for this study was created in Excel format, at the request of Central Authorities.

The study relied on data from 71 Central Authorities, of the 101 Contracting States to the 1980 Convention in 2021 and, as was done in the previo