N° 196 – The 1996 Hague Convention: A unique role in the cross-border protection of children?

An international conference co-organised by ISS (see box below) was an opportunity to observe the added value of the HC-1996 ‘as a unique instrument comprehensively regulating the rules of private international law and co-operation mechanisms on child protection in order to ensure the primary nature of the best interests of the child’. Yet, the low levels of ratification/accession to this Convention and the difficulties linked to its implementation still raise a considerable number of challenges.