Convention on jurisdiction, applicable law, recognition, enforcement and cooperation in respect of parental responsibility and measures for the protection of children(Concluded 19 October 1996)The States signatory to the present Convention,Considering the need to improve the protection of children in international situations,Wishing to avoid conflicts between their legal systems in respect of jurisdiction, applicable law, recognition and enforcement of measures for the protection of children,Recalling the importance of international cooperation for the protection of children,Confirming that the best interests of the child are to be a primary consideration,Noting that the Convention of 5 October 1961 concerning the powers of authorities and the law applicable in respect of the protection of minors is in need of revision,Desiring to establish common provisions to this effect, taking into account the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child of 20 November 1989,Have agreed on the following provisions:CHAPTER ISCOPE OF THE CONVENTIONArticle 11. The objects of the present Convention are:(a) to determine the State whose authorities have jurisdiction to take measures directed to the protection of the person or property of the child;(b) to determine which law is to be applied by such authorities in exercising their jurisdiction;(c) to determine the law applicable to parental responsibility;(d) to provide for the recognition and enforcement of such measures of protection in all Contracting States;(e) to establish such cooperation between the authorities of the Contracting States as may be necessary in order to achieve the purposes of this Convention.2. For the purposes of this Convention, the term "parental responsibility" includes parental authority, or any analogous relationship of authority determining the rights, powers and responsibilities of parents, guardians or other legal representatives in relation to the person or the property of the child.Article 2The Convention applies to children from the moment of their birth until they reach the age of 18 years.Article 3The measures referred to in Article 1 may deal in particular with:(a) the attribution, exercise, termination or restriction of parental responsibility, as well as its delegation;(b) rights of custody, including rights relating to the care of the person of the child and, in particular, the right to determine the child's place of residence, as well as rights of access including the right to take a child for a limited period of time to a place other than the child's habitual residence;(c) guardianship, curatorship and analogous institutions;(d) the designation and functions of any person or body having charge of the child's person or property, representing or assisting the child;(e) the placement of the child in a foster family or in institutional care, or the provision of care by "kafala" or an analogous institution;(f) the supervision by a public authority of the care of a child by any person having charge of the child;(g) the administration, conservation or disposal of the child's property.Article 4The Convention does not apply to:(a) the establishment or contesting of a parent-child relationship;(b) decisions on adoption, measures preparatory to adoption, or the annulment or revocation of adoption;(c) the name and forenames of the child;(d) emancipation;(e) maintenance obligations;(f) trusts or succession;(g) social security;(h) public measures of a general nature in matters of education or health;(i) measures taken as a result of penal offences committed by children;(j) decisions on the right of asylum and on immigration.CHAPTER IIJURISDICTIONArticle 51. The judicial or administrative authorities of the Contracting State of the habitual residence of the child have jurisdiction to take measures directed to the protection of the child's person or property.2. Subject to Article 7, in case of a change of the child's habitual residence to another Contracting State, the authorities of the State of the new habitual residence have jurisdiction.Article 61. For refugee children and children who, due to disturbances occurring in their country, are internationally displaced, the authorities of the Contracting State on the territory of which these children are present as a result of their displacement have the jurisdiction provided for in Article 5(1).2. The provisions of the preceding paragraph also apply to children whose habitual residence cannot be established.Article 71. In case of wrongful removal or retention of the child, the authorities of the Contracting State in which the child was habitually resident immediately before the removal or retention keep their jurisdiction until the child has acquired a habitual residence in another State, and(a) each person, institution or other body having rights of custody has acquiesced in the removal or retention; or(b) the child has resided in that other State for a period of at least one year after the person, institution or other body having rights of custody has or should have had knowledge of the whereabouts of the child, no request for return lodged within that period is still pending, and the child is settled in his or her new environment.2. The removal or the
preceding paragraph with regard to a child habitually resident in a Contracting State shall lapse as soon as the authorities which have jurisdiction under Articles 5 to 10 have taken the measures required by the situation.3. The measures taken under paragraph 1 with regard to a child who is habitually resident in a non-Contracting State shall lapse in each Contracting State as soon as measures required by the situation and taken by the authorities of another State are recognised in the Contracting State in question.Article 121. Subject to Article 7, the authorities of a Contracting State, in whose territory the child or property belonging to the child is present, have jurisdiction to take measures of a provisional character for the protection of the person or property of the child which have a territorial effect limited to the State in question, in so far as such measures are not incompatible with measures already taken by authorities which have jurisdiction under Articles 5 to 10.2. The measures taken under the preceding paragraph with regard to a child habitually resident in a Contracting State shall lapse as soon as the authorities which have jurisdiction under Articles 5 to 10 have taken a decision in respect of the measures of protection which may be required by the situation.3. The measures taken under paragraph 1 with regard to a child who is habitually resident in a non-Contracting State shall lapse in the Contracting State where the measures were taken as soon as measures required by the situation and taken by the authorities of another State are recognised in the Contracting State in question.Article 131. The authorities of a Contracting State which have jurisdiction under Articles 5 to 10 to take measures for the protection of the person or property of the child must abstain from exercising this jurisdiction if, at the time of the commencement of the proceedings, corresponding measures have been requested from the authorities of another Contracting State having jurisdiction under Articles 5 to 10 at the time of the request and are still under consideration.2. The provisions of the preceding paragraph shall not apply if the authorities before whom the request for measures was initially introduced have declined jurisdiction.Article 14The measures taken in application of Articles 5 to 10 remain in force according to their terms, even if a change of circumstances has eliminated the basis upon which jurisdiction was founded, so long as the authorities which have jurisdiction under the Convention have not modified, replaced or terminated such measures.CHAPTER IIIAPPLICABLE LAWArticle 151. In exercising their jurisdiction under the provisions of Chapter II, the authorities of the Contracting States shall apply their own law.2. However, in so far as the protection of the person or the property of the child requires, they may exceptionally apply or take into consideration the law of another State with which the situation has a substantial connection.3. If the child's habitual residence changes to another Contracting State, the law of that other State governs, from the time of the change, the conditions of application of the measures taken in the State of the former habitual residence.Article 161. The attribution or extinction of parental responsibility by operation of law, without the intervention of a judicial or administrative authority, is governed by the law of the State of the habitual residence of the child.2. The attribution or extinction of parental responsibility by an agreement or a unilateral act, without intervention of a judicial or administrative authority, is governed by the law of the State of the child's habitual residence at the time when the agreement or unilateral act takes effect.3. Parental responsibility which exists under the law of the State of the child's habitual residence subsists after a change of that habitual residence to another State.4. If the child's habitual residence changes, the attribution of parental responsibility by operation of law to a person who does not already have such responsibility is governed by the law of the State of the new habitual residence.Article 17The exercise of parental responsibility is governed by the law of the State of the child's habitual residence. If the child's habitual residence changes, it is governed by the law of the State of the new habitual residence.Article 18The parental responsibility referred to in Article 16 may be terminated, or the conditions of its exercise modified, by measures taken under this Convention.Article 191. The validity of a transaction entered into between a third party and another person who would be entitled to act as the child's legal representative under the law of the State where the transaction was concluded cannot be contested, and the third party cannot be held liable, on the sole ground that the other person was not entitled to act as the child's legal representative under the law designated by the provisions of this Chapter, unless the third party knew or should have known that the parental responsibility was governed by the latter law.2. The preceding paragraph applies only if the transaction was entered into between persons present on the territory of the same State.Article 20The provisions of this Chapter apply even if the law designated by them is the law of a non-Contracting State.Article 211. In this Chapter the term "law" means the law in force in a State other than its choice of law rules.2. However, if the law applicable according to Avis juridique important|22003A0221(01)Convention on jurisdiction, applicable law, recognition, enforcement and cooperation in respect of parental responsibility and measures for the protection of children Jornal Oficial nº L 048 de 21/02/2003 p. 0003 - 0013 protection has been taken, may deliver to the person having parental responsibility or to the person entrusted with protection of the child's person or property, at his or her request, a certificate indicating the capacity in which that person is entitled to act and the powers conferred upon him or her.2. The capacity and powers indicated in the certificate are presumed to be vested in that person, in the absence of proof to the contrary.3. Each Contracting State shall designate the authorities competent to draw up the certificate.Article 41Personal data gathered or transmitted under the Convention shall be used only for the purposes for which they were gathered or transmitted.Article 42The authorities to whom information is transmitted shall ensure its confidentiality, in accordance with the law of their State.Article 43All documents forwarded or delivered under this Convention shall be exempt from legalisation or any analogous formality.Article 44Each Contracting State may designate the authorities to which requests under Articles 8, 9 and 33 are to be addressed.Article 451. The designations referred to in Articles 29 and 44 shall be communicated to the Permanent Bureau of The Hague Conference on Private International Law.2. The declaration referred to in Article 34(2), shall be made to the depositary of the Convention.Article 46A Contracting State in which different systems of law or sets of rules of law apply to the protection of the child and his or her property shall not be bound to apply the rules of the Convention to conflicts solely between such different systems or sets of rules of law.Article 47In relation to a State in which two or more systems of law or sets of rules of law with regard to any matter dealt with in this Convention apply in different territorial units:1. any reference to habitual residence in that State shall be construed as referring to habitual residence in a territorial unit;2. any reference to the presence of the child in that State shall be construed as referring to presence in a territorial unit;3. any reference to the location of property of the child in that State shall be construed as referring to location of property of the child in a territorial unit;4. any reference to the State of which the child is a national shall be construed as referring to the territorial unit designated by the law of that State or, in the absence of relevant rules, to the territorial unit with which the child has the closest connection;5. any reference to the State whose authorities are seised of an application for divorce or legal separation of the child's parents, or for annulment of their marriage, shall be construed as referring to the territorial unit whose authorities are seised of such application;6. any reference to the State with which the child has a substantial connection shall be construed as referring to the territorial unit with which the child has such a connection;7. any reference to the State to which the child has been removed or in which he or she has been retained shall be construed as referring to the relevant territorial unit to which the child has been removed or in which he or she has been retained;8. any reference to bodies or authorities of that State, other than Central Authorities, shall be construed as referring to those authorised to act in the relevant territorial unit;9. any reference to the law or procedure or authority of the State in which a measure has been taken shall be construed as referring to the law or procedure or authority of the territorial unit in which such measure was taken;10. any reference to the law or procedure or authority of the requested State shall be construed as referring to the law or procedure or authority of the territorial unit in which recognition or enforcement is sought.Article 48For the purpose of identifying the applicable law under Chapter III, in relation to a State which comprises two or more territorial units each of which has its own system of law or set of rules of law in respect of matters covered by this Convention, the following rules apply:(a) if there are rules in force in such a State identifying which territorial unit's law is applicable, the law of that unit applies;(b) in the absence of such rules, the law of the relevant territorial unit as defined in Article 47 applies.Article 49For the purpose of identifying the applicable law under Chapter III, in relation to a State which has two or more systems of law or sets of rules of law applicable to different categories of persons in respect of matters covered by this Convention, the following rules apply:(a) if there are rules in force in such a State identifying which among such laws applies, that law applies;(b) in the absence of such rules, the law of the system or the set of rules of law with which the child has the closest connection applies.Article 50This Convention shall not affect the application of the Convention of 25 October 1980 on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction, as between Parties to both Conventions. Nothing, however, precludes provisions of this Convention from being invoked for the purposes of obtaining the return of a child who has been wrongfully removed or retained or of organising access rights.Article 51In relations between the Contracting States, this Convention replaces facilitate, by mediation, conciliation or similar means, agreed solutions for the protection of the person or property of the child in situations to which the Convention applies;(c) provide, on the request of a competent authority of another Contracting State, assistance in discovering the whereabouts of a child where it appears that the child may be present and in need of protection within the territory of the requested State.Article 32On a request made with supporting reasons by the Central Authority or other competent authority of any Contracting State with which the child has a substantial connection, the Central Authority of the Contracting State in which the child is habitually resident and present may, directly or through public authorities or other bodies:(a) provide a report on the situation of the child;(b) request the competent authority of its State to consider the need to take measures for the protection of the person or property of the child.Article 331. If an authority having jurisdiction under Articles 5 to 10 contemplates the placement of the child in a foster family or institutional care, or the provision of care by "kafala" or an analogous institution, and if such placement or such provision of care is to take place in another Contracting State, it shall first consult with the Central Authority or other competent authority of the latter State. To that effect it shall transmit a report on the child together with the reasons for the proposed placement or provision of care.2. The decision on the placement or provision of care may be made in the requesting State only if the Central Authority or other competent authority of the requested State has consented to the placement or provision of care, taking into account the child's best interests.Article 341. Where a measure of protection is contemplated, the competent authorities under the Convention, if the situation of the child so requires, may request any authority of another Contracting State which has information relevant to the protection of the child to communicate such information.2. A Contracting State may declare that requests under paragraph 1 shall be communicated to its authorities only through its Central Authority.Article 351. The competent authorities of a Contracting State may request the authorities of another Contracting State to assist in the implementation of measures of protection taken under this Convention, especially in securing the effective exercise of rights of access as well as of the right to maintain direct contacts on a regular basis.2. The authorities of a Contracting State in which the child does not habitually reside may, on the request of a parent residing in that State who is seeking to obtain or to maintain access to the child, gather information or evidence and may make a finding on the suitability of that parent to exercise access and on the conditions under which access is to be exercised. An authority exercising jurisdiction under Articles 5 to 10 to determine an application concerning access to the child, shall admit and consider such information, evidence and finding before reaching its decision.3. An authority having jurisdiction under Articles 5 to 10 to decide on access may adjourn a proceeding pending the outcome of a request made under paragraph 2, in particular, when it is considering an application to restrict or terminate access rights granted in the State of the child's former habitual residence.4. Nothing in this Article shall prevent an authority having jurisdiction under Articles 5 to 10 from taking provisional measures pending the outcome of the request made under paragraph 2.Article 36In any case where the child is exposed to a serious danger, the competent authorities of the Contracting State where measures for the protection of the child have been taken or are under consideration, if they are informed that the child's residence has changed to, or that the child is present in another State, shall inform the authorities of that other State about the danger involved and the measures taken or under consideration.Article 37An authority shall not request or transmit any information under this Chapter if to do so would, in its opinion, be likely to place the child's person or property in danger, or constitute a serious threat to the liberty or life of a member of the child's family.Article 381. Without prejudice to the possibility of imposing reasonable charges for the provision of services, Central Authorities and other public authorities of Contracting States shall bear their own costs in applying the provisions of this Chapter.2. Any Contracting State may enter into agreements with one or more other Contracting States concerning the allocation of charges.Article 39Any Contracting State may enter into agreements with one or more other Contracting States with a view to improving the application of this Chapter in their mutual relations. The States which have concluded such an agreement shall transmit a copy to the depositary of the Convention.CHAPTER VIGENERAL PROVISIONSArticle 401. The authorities of the Contracting State of the child's habitual residence, or of the Contracting State where a measure of protection has been taken, may deliver to the person having parental responsibility or to the person entrusted with protection of the child's person or property, at his or her request, a certificate indicating the capacity in which that person is entitled to act and the powers conferred upon him or her.2. The capacity and powers indicated in