Private International Law (Implementation of Agreements) Act 2020 (c. 24)

Implementation of international agreements

1 Implementation of the 1996, 2005 and 2007 Hague Conventions

(1) In the Civil Jurisdiction and Judgments Act 1982 (“the 1982 Act”), in subsection (1) of section 1 (interpretation of references to the Conventions etc) insert at the appropriate place—

• ““the 1996 Hague Convention” means the Convention on Jurisdiction, Applicable Law, Recognition, Enforcement and Co-operation in respect of Parental Responsibility and Measures for the Protection of Children concluded on 19th October 1996 at The Hague;”.

(2) Before section 4 of the 1982 Act (and before the italic heading preceding that section) insert—

“3C The 1996 Hague Convention to have the force of law

(1) The 1996 Hague Convention shall have the force of law in the United Kingdom.

(2) For the purposes of this Act the 1996 Hague Convention is to be read together with the following declarations made by the United Kingdom on 27th July 2012—

(a) the declaration under Article 29 of the Convention, concerning applicable territorial units;

(b) the declaration under Article 34 of the Convention, concerning communication of requests under paragraph 1 of that Article;

(c) the declaration under Article 54 of the Convention, concerning the use of French.

(3) For convenience of reference there are set out in Schedules 3D and 3E respectively—

(a) the English text of the 1996 Hague Convention;

(b) the declarations referred to in subsection (2).

3D The 2005 Hague Convention to have the force of law

(1) The 2005 Hague Convention shall have the force of law in the United Kingdom.

(2) For the purposes of this Act the 2005 Hague Convention is to be read together with any reservations or declarations made by the United Kingdom at the time of the approval of the Convention.

(3) For convenience of reference the English text of the 2005 Hague Convention is set out in Schedule 3F.

3E The 2007 Hague Convention to have the force of law

(1) The 2007 Hague Convention shall have the force of law in the United Kingdom.

(2) For the purposes of this Act the 2007 Hague Convention is to be read together with any reservations or declarations made by the United Kingdom at the time of the approval of the Convention.

(3) For convenience of reference the English text of the 2007 Hague Convention is set out in Schedule 3G.”

(3) Before Schedule 4 to the 1982 Act insert (as Schedules 3D to 3G) the Schedules set out in Schedules 1 to 4 to this Act.

(4) Schedule 5 (consequential and transitional provision) has effect.