HCCH - Informe anual 2021

Hague Conference on Private International Law – Conférence de La Haye de droit international privé Connecter Protéger Coopérer Depuis 1893 Connecting Protecting Cooperating Since 1893 Report AnnualDrChristopheBernasconi SecretaryGeneral SecretaryGeneral'sMessage In 2020, we learnt to expect the unexpected. As I now reflect on 2021, this lesson has certainly served us well throughout the year. It may not have been the return to “normal” that we had anticipated, or indeed for which we had hoped, however, there is still much to celebrate aboutthepastyear. As earlyasJanuary2021 wewelcomed Namibia as a new HCCH Member, and Singapore as the 120th Contracting Party to the 1961 Apostille Convention – a real milestone! These developments set a positive tone for the months that followed, inwhichwewelcomed a further three new HCCH Members (bringing us to another milestone of 90 HCCH Members) and witnessed a further nine treaty actions, asyouwillreadaboutlaterinthisAnnualReport. In March, our Council on General Affairs and Policy (CGAP) met online for the first time in its history. While an online meeting mayneverbe able to replicate the energy and nature of in-person meetings, it was remarkable to see the active engagement from the Members in such exceptional circumstances. The support and engagement of the HCCH Membership have been criticalfortheOrganisationinthisunusualyear, inwhichallofficialmeetingswereheldonline. While the shift to the online format undoubtedlypresented its own challenges, it also presented various opportunities. The flexibility of the format resulted in more inclusive participation from across the world and led to a significant increase in the number of participants. This enriched the dialogue at HCCH meetings and events throughout the

year, such as the 12th International Forum on the electronic Apostille Programme (e-APP) and Edition 2021 of HCCH a|Bridged. Online meetings have also enabled the Permanent Bureau to increase its engagement with individualStatesinthecontextofpost-Conventionservices, as well as its cooperation with other organisations in the context of external representation work. While I very much hope that in-person activities will resume in the coming year, I remain committed to finding effective ways to facilitate inclusive representation in HCCH meetings and events. Allofthis being said, asyouwillsee from thisyear’sAnnual Report, 2021 was about much more than its (many) online meetings. The 1961 Apostille Convention celebrated its 60th anniversary during the SpecialCommission meeting in October, and in the same month, the 1996 Child Protection Convention celebrated its 25th anniversary with the events comprising the HCCH|Approach Initiative. The sustained interest in these Conventions after so many years is testament to their continuing practical relevance for the modern world. Of course, this is not exclusive to those Conventions. The signatures, ratifications, and accessions throughout the year demonstrate the continuing interest in both older and newer HCCH Conventions, whether in transnational litigation and legal cooperation, family and childprotectionlaw, orcommercialandfinanciallaw. I havealsobeenpleasedtoseetheprogressmadebythe Experts’ Groups and Working Groups in both the normative and non-normative areas throughout the year. Some are likely to conclude their work quite soon, while others have many more discussions to come. In the non-normative space, the work of some of these Groups will be an integral part of the discussions at the upcoming Special Commission meetingsenvisagedin2022 andbeyond. With the current Strategic Plan coming to an end in 2022, the past year was also the perfect

opportunitytoreflectonthefuturestrategicpositioningoftheHCCH. Overthecourseof2021, I had the pleasure of engaging with an open Informal Group of Ambassadors on this topic and I am particularly grateful to both the Ambassadors and the staff of their respective embassies for their active involvement. These discussions will be brought to CGAP and I very much look forward to seeing the full HCCH Membership participating in the collective reflection on the further strategic developmentoftheOrganisation. In short, after another successful year for the HCCH, I am proud of how the Organisation has continued to operate effectively. It has trulybeen a team effort and I would like to thank the many experts, delegates, observers, and of course, my colleagues at the Permanent Bureau, for continuing to rise to the various challenges. We have set a promising course for the future development of the Organisation and I am already looking forward to seeing what exciting new adventuresawaitusin2022. "Thesupportand engagementof theHCCH Membershiphave beencriticalfor theOrganisation inthisunusual year, inwhichall officialmeetings wereheldonline." "I verymuchlook forwardtoseeing thefullHCCH Membership participatinginthe collectivereflection onthefurther strategic developmentof theOrganisation." AnnualReport 2021 | 21 | AnnualReport 2021Contents 05 Milestones 07 Facts & Figures 09 New Members & TreatyActions 11 NormativeWork 15 Other Exploratory NormativeWork 17 Non-NormativeWork 30 Governance & Cooperation 35 The Staff 37 Interns 38 Organisational Chart AnnualReport 2021 | 4 3 | AnnualReport 2021ApplicableLaw WorkingGroupon theMaintenance ObligationsProtocol

(online) January CouncilonGeneral AffairsandPolicy (online) Experts’ Groupon theelectronic ApostilleProgramme (e-APP) and NewTechnologies (online) Administrative CooperationWorking Grouponthe2007 ChildSupport Convention(online) CouncilofDiplomatic Representatives (online) March May Milestones Namibiabecomes 87th Memberof theHCCH Thailandbecomes 88th Memberof theHCCH Experts’ Groupon Jurisdiction (online) Experts’ Groupon InternationalTransfer ofMaintenance Funds(online) Experts’ Groupon Parentage/ Surrogacy(online) Experts’ Groupon Parentage/ Surrogacy(online) February July Mongoliabecomes 89th Memberof theHCCH Experts’ Groupon FamilyAgreements (online) WorkingGroupon Preventingand AddressingIllicit Practicesin Intercountry Adoption(online) 12th International Forumonthe electronicApostille Programme(online) SpecialCommission onthepractical operationofthe ApostilleConvention (online) WorkingGroupon Preventingand AddressingIllicit Practicesin Intercountry Adoption(online) Experts’ Groupon Parentage/ Surrogacy(online) September November Hondurasbecomes 90th Memberof theHCCH WorkingGrouponMattersRelated toJurisdictioninTransnationalCivil orCommercialLitigation(online) HCCH|ApproachGlobalEvent– Commemoratingthe25th anniversary ofthe1996 ChildProtection Convention(online) HCCH a|Bridged– Edition2021: Enabling partyautonomywith the2005 Choiceof CourtConvention (online) Administrative CooperationWorking Grouponthe2007 ChildSupport Convention(online) October December Experts’ Groupon FamilyAgreements (online) TheWorkingGrouponthePracticalHandbookunderthe2000 Protectionof AdultsConventionmetregularlybetweenAprilandDecember2021 (online)

(online) Administrative CooperationWorking Grouponthe2007 ChildSupport Convention(online) October December Experts’ Groupon FamilyAgreements (online) TheWorkingGrouponthePracticalHandbookunderthe2000 Protectionof AdultsConventionmetregularlybetweenAprilandDecember2021 (online) AnnualReport 2021 | 65 | AnnualReport 20211 NewConnectedState 10 Signatures, Accessions&Ratifications 4 NewSignatures (2005 ChoiceofCourtConvention, 2019 JudgmentsConvention) 5 NewAccessions (1961 ApostilleConvention, 1965 ServiceConvention, 1970 Evidence Convention, 1993 AdoptionConvention) 1 NewRatification (2007 ChildSupportConvention) Facts & Figures Membership TreatyActions 29 Interns from 16 States 4 Secondees from 3 States Financial matters Staff Meetings& Events 30+ Meetings Publications& theirtranslations 3 Newpublications 67 Newtranslations, covering 5 publications Post-Convention Assistance 10 4 NewMembers Namibia Thailand Mongolia Honduras Indonesia 35 Staffmembers from 23 States 5 Experts' Groups 5 WorkingGroups 1 SpecialCommission 2 GoverningBodies Statesreceivedtailored post-Conventionassistance 6 PublicEvents 4,277,994 Budgetfor FinancialYear2020-2021 811,138 receivedinmonetaryvoluntary contributionsin2021, ofwhich 445,046 werereceivedfor theiSupportProject 16 % 84 % Budget VoluntaryContributions € € € AnnualReport 2021 | 87 | AnnualReport 2021NewMembers & TreatyActions

TheHCCH has90 Members(89 MemberStatesandtheEuropeanUnion) representingregions acrosstheglobe. Members determine the Work Programme of the Organisation and play an active role in its normative, non-normativeandgovernancework. Contracting Parties to the HCCH Conventions benefit from an extensive legal cooperation network and uniform international standards. The Conventions are open to Members of the Organisation, but also to non-Members, of which many have either signed or become Contracting Parties to one or more HCCH Conventions. This means that there are a total of over150 StatesconnectedtotheworkoftheOrganisationworldwide

Keys: NewMembers AdmittedStates: Colombia, ElSalvadorandLebanonhavebeenadmittedbyaffirmative voteandareinvitedtodeposittheiracceptanceoftheStatutetobecomeMembers Newsignatures, accessionsandratifications

Niger 1993 AdoptionConvention(A) ElSalvador CostaRica 2019 JudgmentsConvention(S) Honduras September2021 Colombia Namibia January2021 Lebanon Israel 2005 ChoiceofCourtConvention(S) 2019 JudgmentsConvention(S) Georgia 1965 ServiceConvention(A) 1970 EvidenceConvention(A) RussianFederation 2019 JudgmentsConvention(S) Mongolia July2021 Thailand March2021 Singapore 1961 ApostilleConvention(A) Indonesia 1961 ApostilleConvention(A) NewZealand 2007 ChildSupportConvention(R) ConnectedStates(Members& OtherContractingParties) Non-ConnectedStates AnnualReport 2021 | 109 | AnnualReport 2021NormativeWork As part of its mandateworking towards the progressive unification of the rules of private international law, conducting legislative or “normative” workisacorefunctionoftheHCCH.

In 2021, the Organisation continued this work exploring areas which may benefit from the development of an international instrument, in thecontextofsomeoftheprojectslistedinthissection. Jurisdiction The origins of the Jurisdiction Project date back to 1992, when the HCCH commenced exploratory work on two key matters in transnational civil or commercial litigation: the jurisdiction of courts and the recognition and enforcement of foreign judgments. Work in these areas progressed gradually throughout the following decades, with particular attention given first to the development of an instrument to address cases specifically involving choice of court agreements (resulting in the adoption of the Choice of Court Convention in 2005) and subsequently to the development of an instrument relating to the recognition and enforcement of foreign judgments (resulting in the adoption of the Judgments Conventionin2019). Since 2020, theJurisdiction Project is again at the centre of the HCCH’s normative work in the area of transnational civil or commerciallitigation. Resumingitsworkfollowingabriefhiatus, the Experts’ Group on Jurisdiction met three times between February 2020 and February 2021, completing its mandatewith thesubmissionofafinalreporttoCGAP inMarch2021. In accordance with the Experts’ Group’s recommendations, in March 2021 CGAP mandated the establishment of a Working Group on Matters Related to Jurisdiction in Transnational Civil or CommercialLitigation, chairedbyProfessorKeisuke Takeshita (Japan), and tasked the Working Group with the development of draft provisions, including rules for concurrent proceedings, to further inform policyconsiderationsanddecisionsinrelationtothe scopeandtypeofanynewinstrument. TheWorking Group met forthe first time in October 2021 to commence work on the development of draft provisions on parallel proceedings. The Group discussed the objectives and scope of the provisions, as well as the role of jurisdictional rules

and the doctrine of forum non conveniens. The second meeting oftheWorking Group is scheduled to take place in February 2022 before the Group reportsonprogresstoCGAP inMarch2022. TheJurisdictionProject exploresmattersrelatedto thejurisdictionofcourtsin transnationalcivilor commerciallitigation: on whichgroundsshouldthe partiestoacivilor commercialdisputebeable toseizethecourtsofa certainState; onwhich groundscanaStateexercise jurisdictioninciviland commercialmatters; how canharmonisedrulesinthis areareducetheriskof parallellitigationin multipleStates? TouristsandVisitors(OnlineDisputeResolution) In2021, theExperts’ GroupontheTouristsandVisitors(ODR) Projectcametoaconclusionwiththepresentationofitsfinal report to CGAP. Established in 2018, the Experts’ Group met three times between 2018 and 2020, chaired by Mr André Stemmet(SouthAfrica). Initsfinalreport, presentedtoCGAP inMarch2021, theExperts’ Group recommended the development of a guide aimed at international tourists and visitors to facilitate the pursuit of cross-border claims. The proposal was endorsed by CGAP, whichmandatedthePermanentBureautodevelopaPractical Guide to Access to Justice for InternationalTourists andVisitors, basedontheDraftOutlinesubmittedbytheExperts’ Group. The Permanent Bureau then began preparing the Practical Guide, the draft text of which was circulated among Members for comment in September 2021. The PracticalGuideisintendedtoassistinternationaltourists and visitors to foreign States seeking access to justice for disputes arising in the context of their visit by providing information on online dispute resolution mechanisms that may be available and HCCH legal instrumentsthatmayberelevantinagivencase.

ThedraftPracticalGuidewillbesubmittedtoCGAP for approvalinMarch2022. TheTouristsandVisitors (ODR) Projectseeksto explorewhetherprivate internationallaw– beit throughabindingor non-bindinginstrument, orbyothermeans– can contributetoensure theprotectionand adequateaccessto justiceforinternational touristsandvisitors. Prof. KeisukeTakeshita, ChairoftheWorkingGroupon MattersRelatedtoJurisdictionin TransnationalCivilorCommercial Litigation MrAndréStemmet, ChairoftheExperts' Groupon theTouristsandVisitorsProject AnnualReport 2021 | 1211 | AnnualReport 2021In 2012, CGAP mandated the establishment of an Experts’ Group on FamilyAgreements, currently chaired by Professor Paul Beaumont (United Kingdom), which met five times between2013 and2021. Consideringtheincreasedinternationalmobilityoffamiliesand children, the growing trend of resolving family matters and disputes through agreements between the parties, and the practical and legal challenges concerning the recognition and enforcement of voluntary agreements across borders, the Experts’ Groupreachedconsensusontheneedforguidancein thisarea. As a result, and with the approval of the HCCH Members, the Experts’ Group developed a first draft of a new Practitioners’ Tool(formerlydraft PracticalGuide) on cross-border recognition and enforcement of agreements reached in the course of family mattersinvolvingchildren. In 2021, the Experts’ Group continued working on the revision of the draft Practitioners’ Tool, first presented to CGAP in2019, withtheaimofimprovingitsreadabilityfora wideraudience and achieving consensus among Members onafinaldraft. After circulating it among Members for comment in July

2021, the Experts’ Group met in September2021 to discuss the most recent version of the Practitioners’ Tool. Among other topics, the discussion focused on the scope and targetaudienceofthePractitioners’ Tool; thesignificanceof habitual residence as a connecting factorwithin the HCCH Child Protection Conventions; and the right of the child to be heard in the context of arriving at a family agreement. A revisionofthePractitioners’ Toolwasproducedaccording totheoutcomesofthismeeting. TheExperts’ GroupmetagaininNovember2021 todiscuss remainingdraftingmattersandtofinalisethedocumentfor submission to CGAP. The Practitioners’ Tool was circulated to Members in December 2021 for a final informal consultation. ThePractitioners’ ToolwillbesubmittedtoCGAP forapprovalinMarch2022. Parentage/ Surrogacy FamilyAgreements Established in 2015, the Experts’ Group on the Parentage / Surrogacy Project is currently chaired byMsJoelleSchickel-Küng(Switzerland). The Experts’ Group met three times in 2021, continuing its discussions on the feasibility of developing both a general private international law instrument on legal parentage (Convention) and a separate protocol on legal parentage establishedasaresultofinternationalsurrogacyarrangements (Protocol). In order to further advance work, small subgroups were also organised throughout the year to discuss specific issues. The Experts’ Group on Parentage / Surrogacymet in February 2021 todiscussthefocusofworkforitsnextmeetings, inorder to prepare its final report to CGAP on the feasibility of a possiblefutureConventionandProtocol. In March 2021, CGAP endorsed the Experts’ Group's recommendation to extend its mandate by one year to

allow submission of its final report to CGAP at its 2023 meeting. Indoingso, CGAP reiteratedthatanyworkbythe HCCH inrelationtointernationalsurrogacyarrangements should not be understood as supporting or opposing surrogacy. In July 2021, the Experts’ Group convened again to discussthescopeofapossibleConventionandProtocol. In particular, the Group assessed the desirability and feasibility of including domestic adoptions in the scope of a Convention. It also assessed the desirability and feasibility of including (1) legal parentage established as a result of a domestic surrogacy arrangement and (2) domestic adoptions in the context of a (domestic / international) surrogacy arrangement in the scope of eitheraConventionorProtocol. The Experts’ Group’s third and final meeting of the year took place in November 2021, to consider the form, structure and focus ofits finalreport. The Group also continued its discussions on the feasibilityof advancing work with respect to a possible Protocol, in particular its aims, as well as the different approachesandthedifferentpossibleelementsthatcouldbeincludedinit. The Experts’ Group on Parentage / Surrogacy is set to meet again in late March 2022 and in October / November 2022, before submitting its final report on the feasibility of a possible future ConventionandProtocoltoCGAP. TheParentage/ SurrogacyProject exploresthefeasibility ofadvancingworkon theprivateinternational lawissuessurrounding thestatusofchildren, includingissuesarising frominternational surrogacyarrangements. TheFamily AgreementsProject exploresmatters relatedtothecrossborderrecognitionand enforcementof agreementsinfamily mattersinvolving children. MsJoelleSchickel-Küng,

ChairoftheExperts' Grouponthe Parentage/ SurrogacyProject Prof. PaulBeaumont, ChairoftheExperts' Group onFamilyAgreements AnnualReport 2021 | 1413 | AnnualReport 2021In 2021, the HCCH and the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) jointly developed a Questionnaire on the intersection of private international law and intellectual property(IP)law. The Questionnaire was designed to identify actual and practical private international law issues in IP disputes. For example, establishing jurisdiction, determining and applying the applicable law, recognising or enforcing foreignjudgments, andwhererelevant, administrativeand judicialcooperation. More than 300 responses to the Questionnaire were received from a diverse range of respondents, including officers from National Organs and IP offices of HCCH Members, members of the judiciary, representatives of IP associations, aswellasIP practitionersandacademics. A preliminary analysis of responses confirmed the applicability of general private international law rules to cross-border IP disputes in most jurisdictions and highlightedthestrongterritorialelementsofIP rights, asenshrinedinsomeinternationalorregional instruments. While less than one third of respondents reported experiencing private international law-related challenges in cross-border IP disputes, the difficulties that were reported were primarily in relation to online cross-border IP disputes and disputes arising in relation to Standard EssentialPatent(SEP) FRAND disputesincertainjurisdictions. The future direction of work on the intersectionofIP andprivateinternational lawwillbedeterminedbyCGAP inMarch 2022. OtherExploratoryNormativeWork Inadditiontothenormativeprojectsdescribedabove, thePermanent Bureauregularlyconductsexploratorywork, oftentogetherwithother international organisations, in various areas which may benefit from furtherresearchontheirprivateinternationallawimplications.

IntellectualProperty TheIntellectual PropertyProject exploresthe intersectionbetween privateinternational lawandintellectual property law, inclose collaborationwiththe WorldIntellectual PropertyOrganization. DigitalEconomy In 2021, the Permanent Bureau continued to monitor developments with respect to the digital economy, including distributed ledger technology, with the aim of identifying private international law issues for potential future work. This exploratory work focused on the specific issues arising from emerging technologies and applications in the digital economy, including jurisdiction and choice ofcourt, applicable lawand choice oflaw, recognition and enforcement ofjudgments, and potentialcooperationframeworks. The Permanent Bureau continued to collaborate with the International Institute for the Unification of Private Law (UNIDROIT) and the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL) with respect to theircurrent work on the digital economy, among other by participating as an observer in meetings of both UNIDROIT’s Working Group on DigitalAssets and Private Law and UNCITRAL’s Working Group IV (ElectronicCommerce). The Permanent Bureau will present a report on its findings to CGAP in March 2022. In addition, issues relating to the private international law implications of the digital economy are set to be included in the programme of the upcoming 2022 HCCH International Commercial and Financial LawConference. Insolvency Lackofclarityonapplicablelawcanoftenleadtoinconsistencyandlackofpredictabilityincrossborder insolvency cases. As a result, exploratory research on the private international law issues relatingtoinsolvencyremainsanimportantcomponentoftheHCCH’snormativework. In 2021, the Permanent Bureau continued to coordinate with UNCITRAL on matters relating to applicable law in insolvency proceedings and civil asset tracing and recovery in insolvency proceedings. The Permanent Bureau participated in the UNCITRAL experts’ group meetings on

these topics in September 2021, as well as the December 2021 meeting of UNCITRAL Working GroupV (InsolvencyLaw). AnnualReport 2021 | 1615 | AnnualReport 2021In 2021, the Apostille Convention celebrated a milestone year that was marked by several meetings and events. The first highlight came as early as January 2021, when the Convention reached 120 Contracting Parties following the accession of Singapore. In May 2021, the Experts’ Group on the e-APP and New Technologies met for the first time. Chaired by Ms Vesna Bratušek (Slovenia), the Group discussed the current use of the e-APP, future possible solutions, and methods for further guidanceandinformationsharing. FortheattentionoftheSpecial Commission, itrecommendedasetof“KeyPrinciplesandGood Practices” as endorsed bythe Experts’ Group and proposed the development of an online forum to facilitate the exchange of informationbetweenContractingParties. In October 2021, the 12th International Forum on the e-APP was held immediately preceding the Special Commission meeting on the practical operation of theApostille Convention. The e-APP Forumwas hosted across time zones, with participants and speakers from across the world. Fourteen Contracting Parties presented their e-APP solutions and discussed topics such as the e-APP as an e-Government solution, coordination among governmentauthoritiesduringtheimplementationprocess, the progressive implementation of the e-APP components, and the future of document authentication in light of new technologies. Non-NormativeWork To date, 40 Conventions and other legal instruments have been adoptedundertheauspicesoftheHCCH. Ensuring the effective implementation and operation of these Conventions is essential and benefits all Contracting Parties. This is facilitatedbytheprovisionofpost-Conventionservices, aspartofthe

“non-normative” work of the Organisation. This section presents the majordevelopmentsfrom2021. 1961 ApostilleConvention Indonesiaaccedestothe1961 ApostilleConvention (October2021) TheSpecialCommissionwasconvenedforthefifth time, chaired by Mr Luke Tang (Singapore) with over 350 participants in attendance. The meeting provided an opportunity for Members, Contracting Parties, and other interested parties to review the practical operation of the Convention, includingthee-APP. Throughout the week, the Special Commission discussed matters relating to the scope and operation ofthe Convention, includingtheresultsfromthe2021 ApostilleQuestionnaire, the impactoftheCOVID-19 pandemic, plansforthesecondedition of the Apostille Handbook, and the operation of the e-APP. There was an emphasis on the increasing use of technology during the discussions, including in issuing electronic public documents aswell as the e-APP, as the Convention continues toadapttothemodernera. The first dayofthe SpecialCommission meeting coincidedwith the 60th anniversary of the Convention. The anniversary was celebrated with a ceremony during which Indonesia deposited itsinstrumentofaccession, becomingthe121st ContractingParty totheConvention. In addition to these events, in 2021 the Permanent Bureau continued to promote the Convention through participation in a number of external events, including for the Common Law Association of Notaries (CLAN), the U.S. NationalAssociation of SecretariesofState(NASS), andtheOfficeofConsularAffairsof the Philippines. The e-APP has also continued to attract interest throughout 2021. The Permanent Bureau engaged with several Contracting Parties as part of their e-APP implementation process, aswellaswith States preparing to join the Convention that are considering e-APP implementation. This included welcomingaworkshopforavisitingdelegationfromUzbekistan

and the organisation oftargeted post-Convention assistance on thee-APP forElSalvador. The1961 Apostille Convention facilitatestheuseof publicdocuments abroad, replacing thetraditional legalisationprocess withtheissuanceof asingleApostille certificate. MrLukeTang, ChairoftheFifthMeetingofthe SpecialCommissiononthe1961 ApostilleConvention Singaporeaccedestothe1961 Apostille Convention(January2021) MsVesnaBratušek, ChairoftheExperts' Groupon thee-APP andNewTechnologies AnnualReport 2021 | 1817 | AnnualReport 20211965 Serviceand1970 EvidenceConventions Throughout 2021, the Permanent Bureau provided advice and tailored support to (aspiring) Contracting Parties of the 1965 Service and 1970 Evidence Conventions, with theaimofensuringtheireffectiveimplementationandpracticaloperation. These activities included training sessions on the 1965 Service Convention for the International Union of Judicial Officers (UIHJ) and the first-ever HCCH-ASEAN Masterclass, which included a session on the 1970 Evidence Convention. In October 2021, an online training session on both Conventions was held for officials of the Supreme Court of Ukraine, with the support of the European Union (EU) Project Pravo-Justice. In the same month, the Permanent Bureau partnered withtheSupremeCourtofNicaraguatodeliverahybridtrainingforNicaraguanjudges, officialsof the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, public defenders and other judicial officers on the Service and EvidenceConventions. As with other HCCH Conventions, there continues to be significant interest in the possibilities for expanding the use of information technologytostrengthentheoperationoftheEvidenceConvention. In June 2021, the Permanent Bureau partnered with the Asian

Business Law Institute (ABLI) to organise a webinar on the “HCCH 1970 Evidence Convention and Remote Taking of Evidence by Video-link”, attended by participants from 30 different jurisdictions. Following the publication, in English and French, of the Guide to Good Practice on the Use of Video-Link under the Evidence Convention in April 2020, translations in 21 additional EU languages were provided by the European Commission and published in December2021. With a view to enhancing the availability and accessibility of information in relation to both the 1965 Serviceand1970 EvidenceConventions, workis underway to improve the Service and Evidence Sections of the HCCH website, including the updating of the Convention bibliographies and the provisionofacompilationofcaselaw. Theseupdates areexpectedtobefullyimplementedin2022 InMay2021, Georgiaratifiedthe1965 ServiceConvention and acceded to the 1970 Evidence Convention. With thesedevelopments, the1965 ServiceConventionhas 79 ContractingPartiesandthe1970 EvidenceConvention has64 ContractingParties. The1965 Service Conventionandthe1970 EvidenceConvention establishauniform frameworkofcooperation mechanismstofacilitate andstreamline, respectively, theserviceof documentsandthetaking ofevidenceabroad. 1980 ChildAbductionConvention In 2021, the 1980 Child Abduction Convention continued to attract significant attention from stakeholders from around theworld, with the Permanent Bureau participating invarious meetings and events aimed at promoting the effective implementation and practical operation of the Convention. Thisincludedtheorganisationoftailoredseminarsfor government officials from the Asia Pacific region (in partnership with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan); for government officials from Germany, Kazakhstan and Turkey (in partnership with the German Foundation for International Legal

Cooperation [IRZ] a