Guidance

Cross-border child protection cases: the 1996 Hague Convention

How local authorities can deal with international child protection cases.

• From: Department for Education
• Published: 3 October 2012
• Last updated: 5 January 2021 — See all updates

Applies to England

Documents

Cross-border child protection cases: the 1996 Hague Convention

Ref: DFE-57513-2012

PDF, 1.03 MB, 31 pages

Details

This guidance replaced the Placement of looked-after children in EU member states.

Local Authorities should use the 1996 Hague Convention for all international child protection cases including those involving EU countries. The EU Regulation on cross border placement of children (commonly known as Brussels IIa) no longer applies. Your local authority will already use the 1996 Hague Convention for non-EU child protection cases with those countries who have signed up to the Convention. This means that the protection of children across borders will continue after 1 January 2021.

If making an application, use the International child abduction unit: request for co-operation form.

You should seek independent legal advice on existing and new cases.

There is also guidance for legal professionals on family law disputes involving the EU.

Published 3 October 2012
Last updated 5 January 2021 + show all updates

1. 5 January 2021

   Updated 'Details' section to clarify how this guidance should be used from 1 January 2021.

2. 3 October 2012

   First published.