125th Anniversary celebrations of the Hague Conference on Private International Law
In the afternoon of 12 September 2018, the Hague Conference on Private International Law (HCCH) will celebrate its 125th anniversary. The first session of the HCCH was officially opened on 12 September 1893. His Majesty King Willem-Alexander of the Kingdom of the Netherlands will honour the event with his presence.
The HCCH is an intergovernmental Organisation – the oldest of all the many organisations based in The Hague. It works for the unification of private international law rules through the development of multilateral legal instruments (“Hague Conventions”). The HCCH focuses its work on international civil procedure and litigation, international family and child protection law, as well as international commercial and financial law.
Today, the Organisation has established 38 Hague Conventions and other instruments, many of which are widely supported at the international level. The work of the HCCH has a direct impact on people’s lives and on the way businesses operate internationally. Some of the most widely ratified/acceded to Hague Conventions include the cross-border use of public documents (Apostille), international adoption and international parental child abduction.
The Organisation counts 83 Members, including the European Union. In addition, 70 non-Member States are Party to one or more Hague Conventions. Thus, in total 152 States are connected to the work of the HCCH.
The official ceremony to celebrate the 125th Anniversary of the HCCH will be a high-level event with invitees representing States (Members and non-Members of the HCCH), Diplomatic Missions accredited to the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Heads of International Organisations and other dignitaries.
