Transfrontier contact concerning children Regional Conference on the 1980 Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction Belgrade, Serbia 3-4 February 2011 Philippe Lortie, First Secretary Hague Conference on Private International Law

Transfrontier contact concerning children General Principles and a Guide to Good Practice Français Available at: English Conférence de La Haye de droit international privé | Hague Conference on Private International Law

Slide 3 Executive Summary, page X Conférence de La Haye de droit international privé | Hague Conference on Private International Law

Slide 4 1. The general principle 2. Co-operation 3. Procedures 4. Safeguards and guarantees 5. Promoting parental agreement Conférence de La Haye de droit international privé | Hague Conference on Private International Law

Slide 5 The general principle : The right of the child to maintain personal relationships U.N. Convention on the Rights of the Child “States Parties shall respect the right of the child who is separated from one or both parents to maintain personal relations and direct contact with both parents on a regular basis, except if it is contrary to the child's best interests.” (Art. 9(3)) “A child whose parents reside in different States shall have the right to maintain on a regular basis, save in exceptional circumstances personal relations and direct contacts with both parents. […]” (Art. 10(2)) Conférence de La Haye de droit international privé | Hague Conference on Private International Law

Slide 6 1. The general principle 2. Co-operation 3. Procedures 4. Safeguards and guarantees 5. Promoting parental agreement Conférence de La Haye de droit international privé | Hague Conference on Private International Law

Slide 7 The framework for international legal co-operation 2.1 The basic framework Two basic elements to support contact rights across frontiers are… Common rules regarding jurisdiction; a mutual respect (recognition and enforcement) for decisions concerning contact which are made on the common jurisdictional bases.  The 1996 Hague Child Protection Convention provides the basic framework, along with the 1980 Hague Child Abduction Convention Conférence de La Haye de droit international privé | Hague Conference on Private International Law

Slide 8 Inter-state administrative co-operation In the context of transfrontier contact the Central Authority acts as a focal point for the exchange of information between States The Central Authority also acts as the centre for channelling information about the progress of specific cases The Central Authority is the central point for the provision of services to give effect to contact rights. Conférence de La Haye de droit international privé | Hague Conference on Private International Law

Slide 9 1. The general principle 2. Co-operation 3. Procedures 4. Safeguards and guarantees 5. Promoting parental agreement Conférence de La Haye de droit international privé | Hague Conference on Private International Law

Slide 10 Effective access to procedures An effective access to the procedures which exist to establish or to exercise transfrontier contact rights In the case of an applicant from abroad, this implies: taking account of the special difficulties arising from unfamiliarity with language or legal systems; appropriate assistance in instituting proceedings; legal aid or assistance if possible; an opportunity to raise issues of contact at all relevant times. Conférence de La Haye de droit international privé | Hague Conference on Private International Law

Slide 11 Acting with due speed at all stages of administrative and judicial procedures (para ), in particular: the location of the childproceedings for enforcement setting of dates for hearings including on appeal the processing of applications for legal aid or assistance achieving an amicable outcomethe processing of applications Degree and duration of disruption with contact and speed (Para ) Speed of procedures Conférence de La Haye de droit international privé | Hague Conference on Private International Law

Slide The general principle 2. Co-operation 3. Procedures 4. Safeguards and guarantees 5. Promoting parental agreement Conférence de La Haye de droit international privé | Hague Conference on Private International Law

Slide 13 Safeguards and guarantees Courts should have at their disposal a broad range of measures which help to safeguard and guarantee stipulated contact arrangements. the surrender of the passport(s) or travel documents of the child; the deposit of a monetary bond or surety; supervision of contact by a professional or a family member; other restrictions attached to contact relative to the risks; requiring that a mirror order should be made in the country where contact is to be exercised. 4.2 Safeguards against unlawful retention 4.1 Safeguards and guarantees The primary guarantee against unlawful retention following a period of visitation (1980 Hague Convention) 4.3 Examples of guarantees and safeguards Conférence de La Haye de droit international privé | Hague Conference on Private International Law

Slide 14 Safeguards and guarantees General principles 4.4 Taking into account the traditions of the parties 4.6 Specifying the terms and conditions 4.5 Proportionality 4.8 Ensuring that the terms and conditions of contact will be enforceable in another country 4.7 Modern means of preserving contact Conférence de La Haye de droit international privé | Hague Conference on Private International Law

Slide The general principle 2. Co-operation 3. Procedures 4. Safeguards and guarantees 5. Promoting parental agreement Conférence de La Haye de droit international privé | Hague Conference on Private International Law

Slide 16 Promoting parental agreement 5.1 Promoting parental agreement 5.2 Facilitating and encouraging agreed solutions 5.3 The role of the State in promoting and supporting parental agreement on contact 5.4 Further elements in the legal framework -Fairness -Right of the child to express his / her views -Confidentiality, impartiality and independence of mediation -Quality and training of mediators 5.5 Legal framework to give the contact agreement cross-border effect Conférence de La Haye de droit international privé | Hague Conference on Private International Law

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