Hague Convention Countries 2022

Two Hague Conventions of 1899 and 1907 created a set of rules of engagement for nations to observe during times of conflict based on international law.

It has taken decades since that time for the Hague Conference on Private International Law (HCCH) to establish itself as a permanent body with the mission of creating and maintaining an international legal system that is cohesive.

A separate country has ratified and ratified the Hague Conventions’ many sections and installments. It is thus doubtful that a list of Hague nations would be complete and accurate if based only on a convention.

As of March 2022, 91 permanent members of the HCCH include 90 nations (almost all of whom are members of the United Nations) and the European Union, which is a Regional Economic Integration Organization (REIO).

Also included in the 65 affiliated parties are those organizations that are not full members of HCCH but are either in the process of becoming members or have signed and ratified one or more HCCH Conventions (full list appears at page bottom).

Conference at Hague on Private International Law 2022 Countries of the Hague

The consensus of the Hague since 1907

The Hague has been the site of a slew of following conventions on international law, many of which are referred to as Hague conventions today. These are only a few examples, however:

• International Opium Convention of 1912 in the Hague (1912)
• Conference of the League of Nations (1930)
• Treaty Concerning Issues of Nationality Laws in Conflict (1930)
• Int’l Court of Justice for the Wealth of Nations
• Convening on Civil Procedure at the Hague (1954)
• The legalization of foreign public documents has been abolished by the Hague Convention (1961)
• Convention of the Hague on the Delivery of Public Services (1965)
• International Convention on the Reconnaissance of the Truth in International Criminal Proceedings (1970)
• The Hague Convention on the Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Judgments (1971)
• Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction Hague Convention (1980)
• Convention of the Hague on the Recognition and Application of Trusts in International Law (1985)
• The Hague Convention on Adoption (1993)
• The Hague Convention on Parental Responsibilities and Child Protection (1996)
• Convention of the Hague on the Selection and Venue of Foreign and Domestic Tribunals (2005)
• Convention of the Hague on Securities (2006)
• Convention of the Hague (2007)

On the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction, Hague Convention

The Hague Abduction Convention, commonly known as the Convention on Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction, was signed on October 25, 1980, and went into effect on December 1, 1983.

For the most part, the goal of the agreement is to guarantee that a child under the age of 16 who has been kidnapped by a parent and transported over an international boundary is returned to the country where they normally reside as promptly as possible (unless the return puts the child in grave physical or psychological danger).

It violates the Convention if, at the time of the removal or detention, a person or other entity exercises custodial rights that the child be removed or retained.

However, the Convention is important since other countries may not recognize the United States court rulings, and sovereign states cannot interfere with the other’s legal systems, judiciaries, or law enforcement.

The Hague Abduction Convention has 101 signatories as of July 2019, including all EU member countries, the majority of HCCH members, and many linked parties (full list at page bottom).

Some nations have signed the Hague Convention agreement with the United States that are non-compliant with the treaty’s provisions or refuse to comply with the treaty’s obligations.

Annual compliance reports are released to keep tabs on these connections, and they name those countries that are either non-compliant, not completely compliant, of concern, showing trends of non-compliance, or experiencing enforcement issues.

Regarding returning abducted children to the United States, Honduras was categorized as “Non-compliant” in each of the 10 compliance reports released between 1999 and 2008 because of its obstructive behavior.

Does the Hague Convention allow nations to refuse to repatriate children to their home countries? The answer is yes, but only under particular conditions. The youngster may be given refuge rather than being sent back if their return would cause them bodily or psychological damage.

Also See: GDPR Countries 2022

An application for return may also be refused if the person making the request did not have custody rights at the time of the removal or if they agreed to the child’s removal or detention.

Courts may also consider the views and desires of a child who has reached a certain age and level of maturity and does not want to return. Courts may refuse children being kept in a nation where they violate basic human rights and freedoms and their right to return.

To repatriate a kid after a year of living in a different place is usually prohibited since they would have adapted to their new surroundings.