Prof. Philippe LORTIE – Direct judicial communications under the 1980 Hague Child Abduction Convention and the International Hague Network of Judges

The principal aim of the International Hague Network of Judges (IHNJ) is to improve the operation of the Hague Child Abduction Convention and the handling of other cross-border civil cases relating to children by promoting international judicial co-operation. By creating direct contact points between members of the judiciary in different States, speedier and more satisfactory resolutions of cross-border disputes involving children, and in particular child abduction cases, will be achieved. The IHNJ also allows for the exchange of information between judges to increase knowledge and improve practice under the 1980 Convention and under other Hague Children’s Conventions, as appropriate.

Further to presenting the IHNJ, the Emerging Guidance regarding the development of the IHNJ and the General Principles for Judicial Communications, including commonly accepted safeguards for Direct Judicial Communications in specific cases, within the context of the IHNJ, Mr. Lortie will present examples of cases in which direct judicial communications took place. A discussion will follow with regard to other areas of the law where such communications could take place.