HCCH- The Judges’ Newsletter on International Child Protection - Vol. XXVII - Spring-Summer 2025

The Connecter Protéger Coopérer Depuis 1893 Connecting Protecting Cooperating Since 1893 Conectando Protegiendo Cooperando Desde 1893 on International Child Protection Special Focus Conference “15 Years of the HCCH Washington Declaration: Progress and Perspectives on International Family Relocation” Embassy of Canada in Washington, D.C. 2-4 April 2025 Volume XXVII | Spring-Summer 2025www.hcch.net Newsletter Judges’Special Focus Conference “15 Years of the HCCH Washington Declaration: Progress and Perspectives on International Family Relocation” Embassy of Canada in Washington, DC (United States of America)

2-4 April 2025

Volume XXVII | Spring – Summer 2025

A publication of the Hague Conference on Private International Law@HCCH, 2025 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 – Conference ‘15 Years of the HCCH Washington Declaration - Progress and Perspectives on International Family Relocation ’ (Embassy of Canada in Washington, DC. , USA), 2-4 April 2025 ”, The Judges’ Newsletter on International Child Protection, Volume XXVII, The Hague, 2025.

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Photo credits (cover): iStock

Published in The Hague, the NetherlandsSpecial Focus: 15 Years of the HCCH Washington Declaration | 3

This publication is not intended to reflect the views of the Member States or the Secretariat of the HCCH.

Photo credits (cover): iStock

Published in The Hague, the NetherlandsSpecial Focus: 15 Years of the HCCH Washington Declaration | 3 Volume XXVII | Spring – Summer 2025 Foreword

This edition of the Judges’ Newsletter on International Child Protection is dedicated to the Conference “15 Years of the HCCH Washington Declaration - Progress and Perspectives on International Family Relocation”, which took place from 2 to 4 April 2025 at the Embassy of Canada in Washington, DC. The Conference, jointly organised by the Embassy of Canada in Washington, DC, the International Academy of Family Lawyers (IAFL) and the HCCH , took place following Conclusions & Recommendations (C&R) Nos 53 - 55 of the Eighth Meeting of the Special Commission (SC) on the practical operation of the 1980 Child Abduction and the 1996 Child Protection Conventions, encouraging the promotion of the 2010 Washington Declaration. The conference was attended by over 200 participants (in person and online), representing 44 HCCH Members and five non -Member Contracting Parties to the 1980 Child Abduction, the 1996 Child Protection, and/or the 2007 Child Support Conventions. The conference was also attended by Fellows of the IAFL, as well as representatives from other Observer organisations to the HCCH. The conference consisted of eight sessions, bringing together experts from over 20 States. The first session set the scene by outlining the harmful effects of international child abduction and presenting international family relocation as a potential tool to help prevent it , in some cases. The second session provided the state of play of international family relocation. The next four sessions facilitated an exchange of experiences among officials from States with specific relocation procedures, States follo wing specific case law or guidelines in relocation cases, and States utilising best interests assessments as guidelines in relocation cases. These were followed by a session highlighting recent research and policy work on international

next four sessions facilitated an exchange of experiences among officials from States with specific relocation procedures, States follo wing specific case law or guidelines in relocation cases, and States utilising best interests assessments as guidelines in relocation cases. These were followed by a session highlighting recent research and policy work on international family relocation. Finally, the last session discussed the use of alternat ive dispute resolution and other services in cases of international family relocation. Some of the presentations made during the conference are available on the conference’s dedicated page on the HCCH website. Among other things, the discussions underscored the enduring practical relevance of the 2010 Washington Declaration in promoting common principles for cross -border family relocation proceedings. This Newsletter aims to serve as a useful repository for the remarks and contributions of the speakers, all of whom have submitted their contributions in writing for the purpose of this Newsletter. The Permanent Bureau is extremely grateful to all the speakers for having prepared and shared their contributions in writing for this Newsletter. It is hoped that those who were not able to attend the conference, and those who have an interest in the subject matter, will find this Newsletter interesting and helpful. The views expressed by the authors in this Newsletter are their own and may not reflect those of the HCCH.4 | The Judges’ Newsletter Volume XXVII | Spring – Summer 2025 Submissions written by Edited by

Sarah Cohen Nietta Keane (English version) Rachael Kelsey Philippe Lortie (English and French version) Dr. Christophe Bernasconi Lydie De Loof (French version) Justice Diana Bryant Emma Canavan (English version) Dr. Ruth Zitner Louise Rioual (English Version) Dr. Jorge Guerra Professor Robert George KC Philippe Lortie Laura Martinez-Mora Dr. Nishat Hyder-Rahman Geneviève Laurence Justice Gwen B. Hatch Javiera Verdugo Toro Ronaldah Lerato Karabo Ozah Awatif Al Khouri and Dr. Hassan Elhais Anil Malhotra

Laura Martinez-Mora Dr. Nishat Hyder-Rahman Geneviève Laurence Justice Gwen B. Hatch Javiera Verdugo Toro Ronaldah Lerato Karabo Ozah Awatif Al Khouri and Dr. Hassan Elhais Anil Malhotra Lord Justice Stephen Cobb Judge Hiram Puig-Lugo Judge Marcela Sandra Trillini Anthony Manwaring Soma Kölcsényi Lola Lopez-Muelas Judge Guilherme Calmon Nogueira Da Gama

Judge Martina Erb-Klünemann Judge Oscar Gregorio Cervera Rivero Judge Annette C. Olland Marc Bauer Patricia Kuyumdjian de Williams Anna Worwood Professor Marilyn Freeman and Professor Nicola Taylor

Alison ShalabySpecial Focus: 15 Years of the HCCH Washington Declaration | 5

Volume XXVII | Spring – Summer 2025 Marzia Ghigliazza Roz Osborne Alexander JonesSpecial Focus: 15 Years of the HCCH Washington Declaration | 7 Volume XXVII | Spring – Summer 2025 Table of Contents

Welcome and opening remarks ................................ ................................ ................................ .......................... 11 Ms Sarah Cohen, Deputy Head of Mission, Embassy of Canada in Washington, DC ....... 11 Ms Rachael Kelsey, President of the IAFL ....................................................................................................... 12 Dr Christophe Bernasconi, Secretary General of the HCCH ............................................................... 14 Mr Philippe Lortie, First Secretary at the HCCH .......................................................................................... 16 Session 1 –Setting the scene: The harmful effects of international child abduction and international family relocation as a potential tool to help prevent it ................................ ............... 19 The Washington Declaration on International Family Relocation – 15 years Later .................. 19 Diana Bryant, former Chief Justice of the Family Court of Australia and Member of the IHNJ, Chair of the Board of the 9th World Congress on Family Law &

The Washington Declaration on International Family Relocation – 15 years Later .................. 19 Diana Bryant, former Chief Justice of the Family Court of Australia and Member of the IHNJ, Chair of the Board of the 9th World Congress on Family Law & Children’s Rights and Chair of the Drafting Committee for the March 2010 Washington Declaration on International Family Relocation ................................ ...................... 19 The impact of child abduction and relocation on children ................................ ................................ ... 21 Dr. Ruth Zitner, Psy.D. ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ..... 21 The impact of depriving children of parental contact ................................ ................................ ............. 23 Dr. Jorge Guerra, Member of the International Association for the Maintenance of the Best Interest of the Child (IAMBIC), International Council on Shared Parenting (ICSP) ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ................ 23 Overview of international family relocation ................................ ................................ ................................ ... 31 Professor Robert George KC, University College London, King’s Counsel at Harcourt Chambers ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ........ 31 Session 2 - International family relocation - State of play ................................ ................................ .... 39 HCCH Conventions ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ..................... 39 Philippe Lortie, First Secretary at the HCCH ................................ ................................ ...................... 39 HCCH Tools ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ..... 42 Laura Martinez-Mora, First Secretary at the HCCH ................................ ................................ ......... 42 A GlobalARRK study of how applicant parents experience relocation proceedings to return to the country they consider home ................................ ................................ ................................ 45 Dr. Nishat Hyder-Rahman, Postdoctoral Fellow, MSCA Impact Fellowship Programme, Vakgroep privaaten economisch recht (PREC) ................................ ..................... 45 Relocation under Canada’s Divorce Act ................................ ................................ ................................ ........... 54 Geneviève Laurence, Counsel, Family Law and Youth Justice Policy Section of the Department of Justice Canada ................................ ................................ ................................ ......... 548 | The Judges’ Newsletter Volume XXVII | Spring – Summer 2025 Session 3 - States with specific relocation procedures ................................ ................................ .......... 63 Canada ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ............. 63

the Department of Justice Canada ................................ ................................ ................................ ......... 548 | The Judges’ Newsletter Volume XXVII | Spring – Summer 2025 Session 3 - States with specific relocation procedures ................................ ................................ .......... 63 Canada ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ............. 63 Justice Gwen B. Hatch, Associate Chief Justice of the Court of King's Bench of Manitoba (Family Division), Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, Member of the IHNJ ............. 63 Chile ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ................... 69 Javiera Verdugo Toro, Lawyer, Ministry of Foreign Affairs ................................ ........................... 69 South Africa ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ .... 71 Ronaldah Lerato Karabo Ozah, Director of Centre for Child Law, University of Pretoria ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ........................... 71 United Arab Emirates ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ................ 80 Awatif Al Khouri, IAFL Fellow, and Dr. Hassan Elhais, Co-Chair of the IAFL Relocation Committee, IAFL Fellow ................................ ................................ ................................ ...... 80 Session 4 - States that follow case law or guidelines in relocation cases ................................ ... 85 Australia ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ........... 85 Diana Bryant, former Chief Justice of the Family Court of Australia and Member of the IHNJ, Chair of the Board of the 9th World Congress on Family Law & Children’s Rights and Chair of the Drafting Committee for the March 2010 Washington Declaration on International Family Relocation ................................ ..................... 85 India ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ................... 88 Anil Malhotra, Secretary of the IAFL Relocation Committee, IAFL Fellow .......................... 88 Ankit Malhotra , Advocate, LL.M.(London), Felix Scholar ................................ ............................. 88 United Kingdom (England & Wales) ................................ ................................ ................................ ................. 96 Lord Justice Stephen Cobb, Court of Appeal Judge, Royal Courts of Justice, London ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ . 96 United States of America ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ...... 103 Hiram Puig-Lugo, Associate Judge, Superior Court of the District of Columbia,

Lord Justice Stephen Cobb, Court of Appeal Judge, Royal Courts of Justice, London ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ . 96 United States of America ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ...... 103 Hiram Puig-Lugo, Associate Judge, Superior Court of the District of Columbia, Washington D.C., Member of the IHNJ ................................ ................................ ............................... 103 Session 5 - States that follow case law or guidelines in relocation cases ................................ .. 111 Argentina ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ........ 111 Judge Marcela Sandra Trillini, Judge in charge of the Family Court No 9, San Carlos de Bariloche, Río Negro, Member of the IHNJ ................................ ........................ 111 France ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ .............. 115 Anthony Manwaring, Magistrat de liaison, Embassy of France in Washington DC ......... 115 Hungary ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ .......... 119 Soma Kölcsényi, IAFL Fellow ................................ ................................ ................................ ................... 119 Spain ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ................ 126 Lola Lopez-Muelas, President of AEAFA, IAFL Fellow ................................ ................................ 126Special Focus: 15 Years of the HCCH Washington Declaration | 9 Volume XXVII | Spring – Summer 2025 Session 6 - States that utilise best interests assessments as guidelines in relocation cases ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ........................ 133 Brazil ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ................ 133 Judge Guilherme Calmon Nogueira Da Gama, Vice-President, Regional Federal Court of the Second Region, Rio de Janeiro, Member of the IHNJ ..................... 133 Germany ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ......... 141 Judge Martina Erb-Klünemann, Judge of the Family Court, District Court of Hamm, Member of the IHNJ ................................ ................................ ................................ ............... 141 Mexico ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ............. 145 Judge Oscar Gregorio Cervera Rivero, Family Magistrate, Superior Court of Justice of Mexico City, Member of the IHNJ ................................ ................................ .............. 145 Netherlands ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ . 153

Mexico ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ............. 145 Judge Oscar Gregorio Cervera Rivero, Family Magistrate, Superior Court of Justice of Mexico City, Member of the IHNJ ................................ ................................ .............. 145 Netherlands ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ . 153 Judge Annette C. Olland, Family Law and International Child Protection Division, District Court of The Hague, Member of the IHNJ ................................ ................................ ........ 153 Session 7 - Research & Policy work on international family relocation ................................ ....... 159 International Social Service (ISS) ................................ ................................ ................................ ...................... 159 Marc Bauer, Deputy Director, ISS Germany ................................ ................................ ..................... 159 Asociación Internacional de Juristas de Derecho de Familia (AIJUDEFA) ................................ .. 165 Patricia Kuyumdjian de Williams, President of AIJUDEFA, IAFL Fellow ............................. 165 International Academy of Family Lawyers (IAFL) ................................ ................................ ..................... 170 Anna Worwood, Co-Chair of the IAFL Relocation Committee, IAFL Fellow .................... 170 Global Research on Relocation ................................ ................................ ................................ .......................... 175 Professor Marilyn Freeman, Co-Director, International Centre for Family Law, Policy and Practice; Principal Research Fellow, University of Westminster; Chair, International Association of Child Law Researchers (IACLaR); 4PB Door Tenant; IAFL Associate Fellow ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ . 175 Professor Nicola Taylor, Faculty of Law, University of Otago, New Zealand; Secretary, International Association of Child Law Researchers (IACLaR); IAFL Associate Fellow ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ . 175 Session 8 - The use of alternative dispute resolution and other services in cases of international family relocation ................................ ................................ ................................ ........................... 185 Reunite ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ........... 185 Alison Shalaby, CEO reunite ................................ ................................ ................................ .................... 185 Overview of a mediation training initiative for Central Authorities under the 1980 Child Abduction and 1996 Child Protection Conventions ................................ ......................... 191 Marzia Ghigliazza, International family lawyer, cross-border family mediator, IAFL Fellow ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ....................... 191

Overview of a mediation training initiative for Central Authorities under the 1980 Child Abduction and 1996 Child Protection Conventions ................................ ......................... 191 Marzia Ghigliazza, International family lawyer, cross-border family mediator, IAFL Fellow ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ....................... 191 GlobalARRK ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ . 203 Roz Osborne, CEO GlobalARRK ................................ ................................ ................................ ............. 203 Mediation experience ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ............. 209 Alexander Jones, Lawyer / Mediator ................................ ................................ ................................ .. 20910 | The Judges’ Newsletter Volume XXVII | Spring – Summer 2025 Concluding remarks ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ................ 215 Philippe Lortie, First Secretary at the HCCH ................................ ................................ .................... 215

Online Survey: Supporting families following international child abduction ............................ 217Special Focus: 15 Years of the HCCH Washington Declaration | 11

Volume XXVII | Spring – Summer 2025 15 Years of the HCCH Washington Declaration Progress and Perspectives on International Family Relocation 2 - 4 April 2025

Welcome and opening remarks

Ms Sarah Cohen, Deputy Head of Mission, Embassy of Canada in Washington, DC

Bonjour et bienvenue à tous. I am Sara Cohen, Deputy Head of Mission at the Embassy of Canada to the United States and I have the honour of leading a team who deal with foreign and national security. On behalf of Ambassador Kirsten Hillman, it is a great pleasure to welcome you to our Embassy for this event marking 15 years since the Washington Declaration on International Family Relocation. This is a timely, important opportunity to advance our mutual cooperation and coordination on family relocation issues. I am very pleased we have been able to partner with the Hague Conference on Private International Law and the International Academy of Family Lawyers to make this event happen. You will be hearing from Christophe Bernasconi, Secretary General of the HCCH and Rachael Kelsey, President of the IAFL in a few minutes, so I will keep my remarks short. But I want to take this opportunity to thank Dr. Bernasconi and Ms.

make this event happen. You will be hearing from Christophe Bernasconi, Secretary General of the HCCH and Rachael Kelsey, President of the IAFL in a few minutes, so I will keep my remarks short. But I want to take this opportunity to thank Dr. Bernasconi and Ms. Kelsey for being here and for the leadership of their organisations on this important file. And to thank their teams who worked so hard to make this event happen. Thank you. Our world is more connected than ever. In ever greater numbers, people are traveling, working and making their lives far from where they were born. And in today’s world, even here in North America, this connectedness can present challenges. I spend a lot of time reflecting on the Canada -US relationship. It is a unique relationship that is built on connections and the movement of people across our shared border. Our best estimate is that about 1 million Canadians live in the United States. Those Canadians work, study, marry and have children in the communities they now call home and with the partners they meet here. Unfortunately, as you in this room know, not every chapter of life ends with a fairy tale “happily ever after”. Some relationships will break down. Some children will live through divorce or parental separation. Families who experience those life events in adoptive countries, or where parents come from different places , face challenges other families don’t.12 | The Judges’ Newsletter Volume XXVII | Spring – Summer 2025

Almost every day, consular officials in this building and at our Embassies and consulates around the world receive calls from Canadians looking for help or advice about securing legal custody rights for their children or how to go about bringing their children back to Canada because of a family breakdown. You know these stories much better than I do. The children and parents who need help are your clients as lawyers or mediators, they are the parties you see in your courtrooms, you provide services to support them, you conduct research on their

bringing their children back to Canada because of a family breakdown. You know these stories much better than I do. The children and parents who need help are your clients as lawyers or mediators, they are the parties you see in your courtrooms, you provide services to support them, you conduct research on their situations, or you develop policies and legislation to help them. Relocation is one of the most litigated family law issues and one the hardest to settle. In Canada, this has prompted federal legislators to adopt a framework to help parents and courts resolve disputes over relocation in the best interests of the child. Y ou will hear about these efforts later today as well as tomorrow morning. Cana