Info for Lawyers: Hague Convention

Sadly, it is not uncommon for us to receive distressed calls about a child being removed from the Australian jurisdiction to another country overseas, including removal by a parent without the consent of the other parent. In fact, on average two to three children are taken illegally by a parent into and out of Australia each week.

Family Law lawyers should be equipped to advise their clients of the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction. To assist, here is a list of countries of which the Hague Convention is in force with Australia:

  • Albania
  • Argentina
  • Armenia
  • Austria
  • Bahamas
  • Belarus
  • Belgium
  • Belize
  • Bosnia and Herzegovina
  • Brazil
  • Bulgaria
  • Burkina Faso
  • Canada
  • Chile
  • Colombia
  • Costa Rica
  • Croatia
  • Cyprus
  • Czech Republic
  • Denmark
  • Dominican Republic
  • El Salvador
  • Estonia
  • Fiji
  • Finland
  • France
  • Georgia
  • Germany
  • Greece
  • Guatemala
  • Honduras
  • Hong Kong (China)
  • Hungary
  • Iceland
  • Ireland
  • Israel
  • Italy
  • Latvia
  • Lithuania
  • Luxembourg
  • Macau (China)
  • Malta
  • Mauritius
  • Mexico
  • Moldova, Republic
  • Monaco
  • Montenegro
  • Netherlands
  • New Zealand
  • Nicaragua
  • Norway
  • Panama
  • Paraguay
  • Peru
  • Poland
  • Portugal
  • Romania
  • Saint Kitts and Nevis
  • San Marino
  • Serbia 
  • Singapore
  • Slovakia
  • Slovenia
  • South Africa
  • Spain
  • Sri Lanka
  • Sweden
  • Switzerland
  • Thailand
  • The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM)
  • Trinidad and Tobago
  • Turkey
  • Turkmenistan
  • Ukraine (in force from 1 February 2013)
  • United Kingdom
  • United States of America
  • Uruguay
  • Uzbekistan
  • Venezuela
  • Zimbabwe

The below countries have acceded to the Convention, but it is not yet in force between these countries and Australia

  • Seychelles – acceded in May 2008
  • Morocco – acceded in March 2010
  • Russia – acceded in July 2011
  • Andorra – acceded in April 2011
  • Gabon – acceded in December 2010
  • Republic of Korea – acceded in December 2012

To read the Hague Convention, or to find out more information on the Convention, please visit the Hague Convention on Private International Law website.

This information is accurate as at January 2013.