Pakistan Accedes the 1980 Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction

On 22 December 2016, Pakistan’s cabinet acceded to the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction (‘1980 Hague Convention’). This means that on 1 March 2017 Pakistan will be the 96^th signatory to the treaty and is expected to become the first South Asian country to do so.

The 1980 Hague Convention is a multilateral treaty developed by the Hague Conference on Private International Law (HCCH) that provides a quick method to return a child internationally abducted by a parent from one member country to another.

As a non-signatory to the 1980 Hague Convention, Pakistan was not bound by the international laws that seek to protect children from the harmful effects of abduction and retention across international boundaries. Very soon, and like other signatory countries, Pakistan will commit to the Convention’s protective provisions. This should ensure the speedy return of a child to their place of habitual residence.

Read the full article here.