Convention on the civil aspects of international child abduction

Authorities Albania

04-05-2007

In accordance with paragraph 1 of Article 6 of the Convention, the Central Authority to discharge the duties, which are imposed by this Convention, is the Ministry of Justice.

25-08-2008

Central Authority (additional information)
Directorate of Codification, Ministry of Justice.

Authorities Andorra

06-04-2011

Central Authority:
Ministry of Interior of the Principality of Andorra.

Authorities Argentina

19-03-1991

Central Authority:
Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Worship
International legal Assistance Department
Office of the Legal Adviser

Authorities Armenia

12-02-2008

Central Authority:
The Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Armenia

03-09-2010

Central Authority (additional information):
Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Armenia
Agency of Civil Status Acts Registration

Authorities Australia

29-10-1986

Central Authority:
A. Commonwealth Central Authority
The Director
Attorney-General's Department
Acces to Justice Division
B. State Central Authorities:
(i) Department of Child Safety, Queensland
(ii) Department of Healt and Community Services, Northern Territory
(iii) Department of Human Services, Victoria
(iv) Department of Youth and Community Services, New South Wales
(v) Department of Health and Human Services, Tasmania
(vi) Commissioner, Western Australian Police Department, Western Australia
(vii) Commissioner, South Australian Police Department, South Australia
(viii) Department of Disability, Housing and Community Services, Australian Capital Territory
Applications should be forwarded to the Commonwealth Central Authority for initial processing to wit to The Secretary, Attorney-General's Department.

23-04-2010

Central Authority (modification)
For the State of New South Wales:
Department of Community Services
Legal Branch

Authorities Austria

14-07-1988

Central Authority:
The Federal Ministry for Justice

Authorities Bahamas

01-10-1993

Central Authority:
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas.

Authorities Barbados

24-10-2019

Central Authority:
Child Care Board of Barbados

Authorities Belarus

12-01-1998

Central Authority:
The Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Belarus

Authorities Belgium

09-02-1999

Central Authority:
Federal Public Service for Justice
Directorate-General for Legislation and Fundamental Rights and Freedoms
Service for International Civil Cooperation
Central Authority for International Legal Assistance in Civil Matters

Authorities Belize

13-07-1990

Central Authority:
The Minister of Social Services and Community Development
and in case of his absence:
Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Social Services and Community Development

18-02-2011

Central Authority:
Ministry of Human Development and Social Transformation

Authorities Bolivia

06-10-2017

Central Authority:
Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Authorities Bosnia and Herzegovina

23-08-1993

Central Authority:
The Ministry of Civil Affairs and Communications

29-04-2003

[...] the Ministry of Justice of Bosnia and Herzegovina has taken over from the Ministry of Civil Affairs and Communications.

Authorities Botswana

14-11-2022

Central Authority:
The Department of Social Protection in the Ministry of Local Government

Authorities Brazil

13-12-2001

Central Authority (as of 7 January 2002):
State Secretariat of Human Rights
Ministry of Justice

(Secretaria de Estado dos Direitos Humanos
Ministério da Jusitiça)

24-09-2010

Central Authority (modification)
Central Authority Federal Administration-ACAF
Secretariat of Human Rights

Authorities Bulgaria

20-05-2003

Declaration in accordance with Article 6:
In accordance with Article 6 of the Convention the Republic of Bulgaria has designated as Central Authority the Ministry of Justice.

Authorities Burkina Faso

25-05-1992

Central Authority:
Department of Social Action and the Family

22-08-2011

Ministry of Social Action and National Solidarity

Authorities Cabo Verde

17-02-2023

Central Authority:
Office of the Prosecutor General of the Republic – Central Department of Cooperation and Comparative Law (Procuradoria-Geral da República – Departamento Central de Cooperação e Direito Comparado)

Authorities Canada

15-11-2011

Central Authority:
For the Federal Government
Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada as represented by:
Justice Legal Services (JUS)
Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade

For the Province fo Alberta
Alberta Justice
Department of Justice
Calgary Family Law

For British Columbia
Ministry of Attorney General
Legal Services Branch

For the Province of Manitoba
Department of Justice
Family Law Branch

For the Province of New Brunswick
Coordinator of Family Cases

For the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador
Attorney General of Newfoundland and Labrador

For the Province of Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia Department of Justice
Legal Services Division

For Nunavut
Legal & Constitutional Law
Department of Justice
Government of Nunavut

For the province of Ontario
Ministry of the Attorney General
Central Authority for Ontario

For the Province of Prince Edward Island
Central Authority for Prince Edward Island
Department of Justice and Public Safety
Family Law Centre

For the Province of Québec
Department of professional Services - International assistance
Ministry of Justice of Québec

For the Province of Saskatchewan
Ministry of Justice and Attorney General
Policy, Planning and Evaluation Branch
Public Law and Policy Division

For the Northwest Territories
Policy and Planning Division
Department of Justice
Government of the Northwest Territories

For the Yukon Territory
Deputy Minister of Justice

Authorities Chile

23-02-1994

Central Authority:
Legal Aid Corporation of the Metropolitan Region

Authorities China

16-06-1997

In accordance with Article 6 of the Convention, the Government of the People's Republic of China designates the Secretary of Justice of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region as the Central Authority for the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.

10-12-1999

In accordance with Article 6 of the Convention, the Government of the People's Republic of China designates the Welfare Department of the Macao Special Administrative Region as Central Authority in the Macao Special Administrative Region.
Within the above ambit, the Government of the People's Republic of China will assume the responsibility for the international rights and obligations that place on a Party to the Convention.[ ...]

25-08-2008

Central Authority of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region
Secretary for Justice of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region
c/o. International Law Division
(Mutual Legal Assistance Unit)
Department of Justice

17-02-2011

Central Authority for the Macau Special Region
Social Welfare Bureau

Authorities Colombia

05-03-2003

Central Authority as of 05-03-2003:
Colombian Family Welfare Institute
Direct Interventions Division and/or Directorate-General

Authorities Costa Rica

14-09-2001

Central Authority:
National Child Welfare Board

Authorities Croatia

05-04-1993

In conformity with Article 6, paragraph 1 of the Convention, the Executive Authority is the Ministry of Labour and Welfare and Executive Authority to which applications may be submitted to be forwarded to the Central Executive Authority from Article 6, paragraph 1 of the Convention is the Ministry of Justice and Administration.

29-10-2007

Central Authority (modification)
Ministry of Health and Social Welfare

08-07-2021

Central Authority (modification):
Ministry of Labour, Pension System, Family and Social Policy

Authorities Cuba

12-09-2018

Central authority: Ministry of Justice

Authorities Cyprus

04-11-1994

Central Authority:
The Ministry of Justice and Public Order

Authorities Czech Republic

15-12-1997

Central Authority:
Central Agency for International Legal Protection of Youth

05-03-2010

Central Authority (additional information):
The designated Czech Central Authority is the Office for International Legal Protection of Children.

Authorities Denmark

17-04-1991

Central Authority:
Justitsministeriet - Civilretsdirektorat
(Ministry of Justice - Department of Private Law)

11-01-2012

Central Authority
The National Social Appeals Board
Division of Family Affairs

04-12-2012

From December 1st 2012 the Central Authority in Denmark will be the Ministry of Social Affairs and Integration.

Authorities Dominican Republic

02-09-2004

Central Authority:
The National Council for the Childhood and Adolescence

Authorities Ecuador

22-01-1992

Central Authority:
The Ministry of Welfare

02-06-2008

Central Authority (modification)
National Council for Children and Adolescents

Authorities El Salvador

05-02-2001

The Government of the Republic of El Salvador, in accordance with Article 6, paragraph 1, designates as its Central Authority the ISPM: Instituto de Protección al Menor [Institute for the Protection of the Child] .

09-11-2004

Central Authority (modification)
Procuradoría General de la República
As regards the Central Authority designated by El Salvador in the instrument of accession [...], consisting of the Public Prosecution Service of the Republic and the Instituto Salvadoreño de Protección al Menor (ISPM), the Ministry informs the Embassy, for all relevant purposes, that the name of the latter institution has been changed to Instituto Salvadoreño para el Desarrollo Integral de la Niñez y la Adolescencia (ISNA) [Office of the Attorney General of the Republic Salvadoran Institute for Full Development of Children and Adolescents]

Authorities Estonia

18-04-2001

Pursuant to Article 6, paragraph 1, of the Convention the Republic of Estonia designates the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Estonia as the Central Authority.

Authorities Fiji

08-01-2003

Central Authority:
Ministry for Social Welfare & Poverty Alleviation

17-03-2010

Central Authority (modification)
The Permanent Secretary for Justice

Authorities Finland

25-05-1994

Central Authority:
Ministry of Justice

Authorities France

16-09-1982

In accordance with the provisions of article 6, the Ministry of Justice, represented by the Office for Judicial Cooperation in Civil and Commercial Matters (Bureau de l'Entraide Judiciaire Internationale à la Direction des Affaires Civiles et du Sceau), is designated as the Central Authority.

15-11-2005

Central Authority:
Office for Cooperation in Civil and International Commercial Matters (D3)
Department of Civil and Seal Matters
Ministry of Justice and Freedoms

Authorities Georgia

24-07-1997

Central Authority:
The Ministry of Justice of Georgia

Authorities Germany

27-09-1990

Central Authority:
Attorney General at the Federal Court of Justice

06-02-2007

The designated authority has been modified (since 1 January 2007) as follows:
Ministry of Justice (new office name)
Central Authority

Authorities Greece

19-03-1993

In accordance with article 6, paragraph 1 of the Convention, the Ministry of Justice (legislative drafting department, 4th section) is designated as the Central Authority of Greece.

Authorities Guatemala

06-02-2002

The Central Authority is the Attorney General of the Nation

Authorities Guinea

08-11-2012

[...] in accordance with the provisions of Article 6 of the Convention, the Ministry of Social Affairs, Promotion of Women and Childhood has been designated as the Central Authority to discharge the execution of the Convention.

Authorities Guyana

28-02-2019

Central Authority: the Minister of Legal Affairs and the Attorney General Chambers

19-05-2022

Central and Competent Authority (modification):
The Ministry of Human Services and Social Security

Authorities Honduras

20-12-1993

Central Authority:
National Social Welfare Board

13-01-2012

Honduran Institute for Children and Families (IHNFA)
Office specialized in The Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction and its implementation

Authorities Hungary

07-04-1986

Central Authority:
The Ministry of Justice

28-09-2010

Central Authority (modification)
Ministry of Public Administration and Justice
Department of Justice Cooperation and Private International Law

Authorities Iceland

14-08-1996

Central Authority:
The Ministry of Justice and Ecclesiastical Affairs.

27-04-2011

Central Authority
Ministry of the Interior

Authorities Ireland

05-07-2006

Central Authority:
Department of Justice and Equality

Authorities Israel

04-09-1991

Central Authority:
The Attorney General
Ministry of Justice

21-02-2008

Central Authority (modification)
Ministry of Justice
Office of the State Attorney
Department of International Affairs

Authorities Italy

22-02-1995

Central Authority:
The Italian Ministry of Justice - Central Office for the Justice of minors

Authorities Jamaica

07-03-2023

Central Authority:
Child Protection and Family Services Agency

Authorities Japan

24-01-2013

Central Authority:
Hague Convention Division, Consular Affairs Bureau,
Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Authorities Kazakhstan

19-06-2014

Central Authority:
Ministry of Education and Science

Authorities Latvia

15-11-2001

In accordance with Article 6 of the Convention the Republic of Latvia declares that the Central Authority is:
National Center for the Rights of the Child

01-07-2003

Central Authority (modification)
Secretariat of Minister for Special Assignments for Children and Family Affairs

28-07-2004

Central Authority (modification)
Ministry of Children and Family Affairs

02-09-2009

Central Authority (modification)
Ministry of Justice

Authorities Lesotho

24-08-2012

Central Authority:
Ministry of Justice, Human Rights and the Correctional Services

Authorities Lithuania

28-02-2002

Central Authority:
the Ministry of Social Security and Labour of the Republic of Lithuania

19-09-2006

Central Authority (modification)
State Child Rights Protection and Adoption Service
Ministry of Social Security and Labour of the Republic of Lithuania

Authorities Luxembourg

08-10-1986

The Principal State Prosecutor is designated as the Central Authority referred to in Article 6 of the Convention.

Authorities Malta

12-10-2001

Central Authority:
Director Department of Family Welfare
Social Work Centre

19-01-2012

Director for Social Welfare Standards
Department for Social Welfare Standards

Authorities Mauritius

23-03-1993

Central Authority:
The Attorney General's Office.

22-07-2011

Central Authority
The Permanent Secretary
Ministry of Gender Equality, Child Development and Family Welfare

Authorities Mexico

20-06-1991

Central Authority:
Department of Legal Affairs
Ministry of Foreign Affaires
In addition to the above-mentioned Central Authority Mexico has appointed [...] State Central Authorities [...].
The Central Authority to which applications may be addressed for transmission to the appropriate State Central Authority remains as before the Department of Legal Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Mexico.

Authorities Moldova

12-08-1999

Central Authority:
The Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Moldova

20-01-2012

Central Authority
Ministry of Labour, Social Protection and Family

Authorities Monaco

12-11-1992

Central Authority:
Department of Legal Services
Palace of Justice

Authorities Montenegro

06-02-2002

Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Montenegro - Sector for Justice.

Authorities Morocco

09-03-2010

[...] the Ministry of Justice of Morocco will assume the functions of the Central National Authority under Article 6 of the Convention.

Authorities Netherlands, the Kingdom of the

12-06-1990

The Legal Affairs Support Unit, which is part of the Prevention, Youth Protection and Probation Service of the Ministry of Justice, The Hague, will be responsible for execution of the Convention as of 1 September 1995.

28-02-2012

For the European part of the Netherlands:
Ministry of Security and Justice
Legal Affairs Support Unit
Directorate-General for Youth and Implementation of Sanctions
For the Caribbean part of the Netherlands:
Guardianship Council (Voogdijraad)
Bonaire

27-11-2023

Central authority for Curaçao:
Guardianship Council (Voogdijraad)

Authorities New Zealand

31-05-1991

Central Authority:
The Secretary
Department of Justice

Authorities Nicaragua

05-01-2011

Ministerio de la Familia Adolescencia y Niñez (MIFAN)

Authorities North Macedonia

20-09-1993

The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia has designated the following Central Authority in accordance with Article 6:
the Ministry of Labour and Social Policy of the Republic of Macedonia

Authorities Norway

09-01-1989

Central Authority:
Royal Ministry of Justice and the Police

26-02-2020

(modification as of 1 March 2020)
Central authority:
Norwegian Directorate for Children, Youth and Family Affairs

Authorities Pakistan

24-12-2020

Central Authority:
Ministry of Law and Justice

Authorities Panama

02-02-1994

Central Authority:
The Ministry of Foreign Relations

Authorities Paraguay

13-05-1998

Central Authority:
The Direction of the Protection of the Child, Ministry of Justice and Labour

24-11-2004

Central Authority (modification)
National Secretariat for Childhood and Adolescence

Authorities Peru

03-01-2002

Central Authority:
Ministry of Promotion of Women and Human Development (PROMUDEH)

28-01-2008

Central Authority (modification)
Ministry of Women and Social Developmentl (MIMDES)

Authorities Philippines

04-04-2016

[…] that for the purposes of the Convention, the Philippine Central Authority shall be the Department of Justice, Office of the Chief State Councel (Legal Staff), [...]

Authorities Poland

25-07-2012

Central Authority
Ministry of Justice
Division of International Law

Authorities Portugal

29-09-1983

Central Authority:
Institute for Social Reintegration

28-02-2008

Central Authority (modification)
Direcção-Geral de Reinserção Social do Ministério da Justiça
(Directorate-General of Social Reintegration of the Ministry of Justice)

16-02-2024

Central Authority (modification):
Direção-Geral da Administração da Justiça – Ministério da Justiça
(Directorate-General for the Administration of Justice – Ministry of Justice)

Authorities Republic of Korea, the

13-12-2012

Central Authority (Art. 6)
Ministry of Justice

Authorities Romania

25-07-2011

The Romanian Ministry of Justice

Authorities Russian Federation

28-03-2012

[...] the Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian Federation has been designated as Central Authority to discharge the duties which are imposed by the Convention upon such authorities.

Authorities Saint Kitts and Nevis

31-05-1994

Central Authority:
Attorney General or his designate

Authorities San Marino

14-12-2006

Central Authority:
In conformity with Article 6, first paragraph, the Republic of San Marino designates the Tribunale Unico (Single Court) as the competent Central Authority.

Authorities Serbia

06-02-2002

In line with Article 6, para 1 of the Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction, the central authority in charge of obligations envisaged by the Convention:
The Ministry of Justice and Local Self-Government of the Republic of Serbia.

03-04-2007

Central Authority (modification)
Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Serbia.

11-08-2010

Central Authority (addtional information)
Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Serbia
International Legal Assistance Department

Authorities Seychelles

27-05-2008

Central Authority:
Director of Social Services
Ministry of Health and Social Development

Authorities Singapore

28-12-2010

Central Authority:
Rehabilitation, Protection and Residential Services Division,
Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports.

04-04-2013

Central Authority:
Rehabilitation, Protection and Residential Services Division
Ministry of Social and Family Development

Authorities Slovakia

07-11-2000

Central Authority:
The Centre for International Legal Protection of Children and Youth.

01-06-2007

(Modification):
Central Authority
Centrum pre medzinárodnoprávnu ochranu detí a mládeze
(Centre for International Legal Protection of Children and Youth)
[...]

Authorities Slovenia

22-03-1994

Central Authority:
The Ministry of Interior

20-12-2012

[...] a new Central Authority (CA) in Republic of Slovenia (from 21st December 2012) will become:
Ministry of Labour, Family and Social Affairs of the Republic of Slovenia,
Directorate of Family.

Authorities South Africa

08-07-1983

Central Authority:
DOJ&CD
Office of the Chief Family Advocate

Authorities Spain

16-06-1987

Central Authority:
General Technical Secretariat of the Ministry of Justice

28-02-2006

Central Authority (modification)
Treaties Division
Ministry of Justice

Authorities Sri Lanka

28-09-2001

And declarations made under Article (6) and (8).
Article 6: In terms of Article 6, the Secretary/Ministry of Justice is designated the Central Authority.
Article 8: The authority competent to act upon a Letter of Request pursuant to Article 8 would be the Secretary, Ministry of Justice.

Authorities Sweden

22-03-1989

Central Authority:
Ministry for Foreign Affairs
Department for Consular Affairs and Civil Law

Authorities Switzerland

11-10-1983

Central Authority:
Federal Office of Justice of the Federal Department of Justice and Police.

14-07-2009

Central Authority (modification):
Federal Office of Justice
International Private Law Unit

Authorities Thailand

14-08-2002

[...] in accordance with Article 6, paragraph 1, thereof, declares that it has designated the Office of the Attorney-General of the Kingdom of Thailand as the Central Authority.

Authorities Trinidad and Tobago

06-03-2002

[...] that the Children's Authority of Trinidad and Tobago is designated to act as the central authority pursuant to Article 6 of the Convention. The Children's Authority Act. No. 64 of 2000 which establishes a Children's Authority of Trinidad and Tobago has been enacted. The National Family Services Division of the Office of the Prime Minister (Social Services Delivery) will serve as the interim authority pending proclamation of the Act.

11-11-2008

Central Authority (modification)
Civil Child Abduction Authority

Authorities Tunisia

23-02-2018

Central Authority:
Tunisian Ministry of Justice

Authorities Türkiye

24-01-2002

Central Authority:
Ministry of Justice
The General Directorate of International Law and Foreign Relations

Authorities Turkmenistan

01-09-1999

Central Authority:
Turkmen national institute of democracy and human rights under the President of Turkmenistan

Authorities Ukraine

02-06-2006

Central Authority:
In Ukraine the duties of the Central Authority which are imposed by the Convention are discharged by the Ministry of Justice of Ukraine.

Authorities United Kingdom

20-05-1986

Central Authority:
(i) for England and Wales,
the Lord Chancellor,
the Lord Chancellor's Department,
(ii) for Northern Ireland,
the Lord Chancellor,
Northern Ireland Court Service,
(iii) for Scotland,
the Secretary of State for Scotland,
the Scottish Courts Administration,
In accordance with Article 6, paragraph 2, of the Convention, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland designated as Central Authority to which applications may be addressed for transmission to the appropriate Central Authority:
Central Authority for England and Wales
The International Child Abduction and Contact Unit (ICACU)
Official Solicitor and Public Trustee
[...] for the Falkland Islands:
the Governor,
[...] for the Cayman Islands:
the Attorney General
[...] for Montserrat:
Attorney General's Chambers
[...] for Bermuda:
The Attorney General

09-04-2010

Central Authority (modification)
(ii) for Northern Ireland,
Northern Ireland Courts and Tribunals Service,

22-04-2010

Central Authority (modification)
(iii) for Scotland
Scottish Government
EU & International Law Branch

25-07-2011

Central Authority for England and Wales:
The International Child Abduction and Contact Unit (ICACU)
Official Solicitor and Public Trustee
[...] For the Isle of Man
Attorney General's Chambers
[...] For Anguilla
Attorney-General's Chambers
[...] For Jersey
HM Attorney General
Law Offices Department

Authorities United States of America

29-04-1988

Central Authority:
Office of Citizens Consular Services

01-04-2008

Central Authority (modification)
U.S. Department of State - Office of Children's Issues
The Office of Children's Issues is the primary contact for cases of children abducted both to and from the United States. Additionally, this office has overall policy co-ordination responsibility for the Hague Convention program for the United States.
Note: Effective April 1, 2008, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children will no longer perform case management duties on cases of children abducted from other Hague member countries to the United States. The Department of State's Office of Children's Issues is the primary contact for cases involving children abducted to the United States and children abducted from the United States.

08-07-2010

U.S. Department of State - Office of Children's Issues
The Office of Children's Issues is the Central Authority and is the primary contact for cases of children abducted both to and from the United States. Additionally, this office has overall policy co-ordination responsibility for implementation of the abduction convention in the United States.

Authorities Uruguay

16-11-1999

Central Authority:
Department for International Legal Cooperation of the Ministry of Education and Culture

Authorities Uzbekistan

24-01-2000

Central Authority:
Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Uzbekistan,
International Law Department

Authorities Venezuela

16-10-1996

Central Authority:
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Venezuela.

Authorities Zambia

26-08-2014

The Government of the Republic of Zambia, [...] in accordance with Article 6 paragraph 1, [...] declares that it has designated the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Community Development, Mother and Child Health as the Central Authority.

Authorities Zimbabwe

04-04-1995

Central Authority:
The Secretary for the Ministry of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs.