Hague Convention on the Protection of Children

The Lord Chancellor’s Department has issued a consultation paper seeking views on the ratification of an international agreement which aims to resolve international legal problems arising in legal proceedings concerning children where more than one country is involved. The main aim of the agreement is to avoid clashes between the administrative and judicial authorities and laws of different countries when it comes to taking measures to protect a child or his property, where that child has connections with more than one country. It is intended to make clear which country’s administrative and judicial authorities and laws should property be referred to in taking formal decisions on the protection of a child or his property. In so doing the agreement seeks to prevent the authorities in two countries taking measures relating to the same child at the same time.