Press Releases
2024 Webinar on the HCCH 1980 Child Abduction Convention in Asia and the Pacific
November 20, 2024
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, together with the Hague Conference on Private International Law (HCCH), co-hosted the “2024 Webinar on the HCCH 1980 Child Abduction Convention in Asia and the Pacific” on November 19. The overview is as follows.
- The webinar was organised to strengthen the implementation structure of the Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction (the 1980 Hague Convention) in the contracting states in Asia and the Pacific region and to promote cooperation between contracting states, as well as to encourage non-contracting states to join the 1980 Hague Convention.
- The webinar was attended by officials of goverments and diplomatic corps from 17 countries and regions including non-contracting states in Asia and the Pacific in addtion to Japan.
- At the outset, Dr. Christophe BERNASCONI, the Secretary General of HCCH gave a keynote speech. Following that, the Japanese Central Authority of this Convention (Ministry of Foreign Affairs), the Supreme Court and the visitation supporting institution - gave their presentations about the implementation of the Convention in Japan. In addition, central authorities of the United States, Australia, the Republic of Korea and Singapore gave their presentations about the implementation of the Convention in their respective countries. Finally, paticipants from both contracting states and non-contracting states conducted candid and active discussions in the Question and Answer session.
- This webinar is expected to further promote the cooperation among the relevant countries for the resolution and prevention of international child removals.