PROTECTION OF CHILDREN (HAGUE CONVENTION) ACT (hagueconvention)

PROTECTION OF CHILDREN (HAGUE CONVENTION)

CHAPTER 507

PROTECTION OF CHILDREN

(HAGUE CONVENTION) ACT

To enable Malta to ratify the Hague Convention on jurisdiction, applicable

law, recognition, enforcement and cooperation in respect of parental

responsibility and measures for the protection of children concluded on the 19th

October 1996.

14th December, 2010

ACT XXI of 2010 , As amended by Act II of 2019

The short title of this Act is the Protection of Children

(Hague Convention) Act.

(Article 2)

CONVENTION ON JURISDICTION, APPLICABLE LAW, RECOGNITION,

ENFORCEMENT AND CO-OPERATION IN RESPECT OF PARENTAL

RESPONSIBILITY AND MEASURES FOR THE PROTECTION OF CHILDREN

(Concluded 19 October 1996)

The States signatory to the present Convention,

Considering the need to improve the protection of children in international

situations,

Wishing to avoid conflicts between their legal systems in respect of jurisdiction,

applicable law, recognition and enforcement of measures for the protection of

children,

Recalling the importance of international co-operation for the protection of

children,

Confirming that the best interests of the child are to be a primary consideration,

Noting that the Convention of 5 October 1961 concerning the powers of

authorities and the law applicable in respect of the protection of minors is in need of

revision,

Desiring to establish common provisions to this effect, taking into account the

United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child of 20 November 1989,

Have agreed on the following provisions -

CHAPTER I - SCOPE OF THE CONVENTION

Article 1

(1)

The objects of the present Convention are -

(a) to determine the State whose authorities have jurisdiction to take

measures directed to the protection of the person or property of the

child;

(b) to determine which law is to be applied by such authorities in exercising

their jurisdiction;

(c) to determine the law applicable to parental responsibility;

(d) to provide for the recognition and enforcement of such measures of

protection in all Contracting States;

(e) to establish such co-operation between the authorities of the

Contracting States as may be necessary in order to achieve the purposes

of this Convention.

(2) For the purposes of this Convention, the term ‘parental responsibility’

includes parental authority, or any analogous relationship of authority determining

the rights, powers and responsibilities of parents, guardians or other legal

representatives in relation to the person or the property of the child.

Article 2

The Convention applies to children from the moment of their birth until they reach

the age of 18 years.

PROTECTION OF CHILDREN (HAGUE CONVENTION)

Article 3

The measures referred to in Article 1 may deal in particular with -

(a) the attribution, exercise, termination or restriction of parental

responsibility, as well as its delegation;

(b) rights of custody, including rights relating to the care of the person of

the child and, in particular, the right to determine the child's place of

residence, as well as rights of access including the right to take a child

for a limited period of time to a place other than the child's habitual

residence;

(c) guardianship, curatorship and analogous institutions;

(d) the designation and functions of any person or body having charge of

the child's person or property, representing or assisting the child;

(e) the placement of the child in a foster family or in institutional care, or

the provision of care by kafala or an analogous institution;

(f) the supervision by a public authority of the care of a child by any person

having charge of the child;

(g) the administration, conservation or disposal of the child’s property.

Article 4

The Convention does not apply to -

(a) the establishment or contesting of a parent-child relationship;

(b) decisions on adoption, measures preparatory to adoption, or the

annulment or revocation of adoption;

(c) the name and forenames of the child;

(d) emancipation;

(e) maintenance obligations;

(f) trusts or succession;

(g) social security;

(h) public measures of a general nature in matters of education or health;

(i) measures taken as a result of penal offences committed by children;

(j) decisions on the right of asylum and on immigration.

CHAPTER II - JURISDICTION

Article 5

(1) The judicial or administrative authorities of the Contracting State of the

habitual residence of the child have jurisdiction to take measures directed to the

protection of the child’s person or property.

(2) Subject to Article 7, in case of a change of the child’s habitual residence to

another Contracting State, the authorities of the State of the new habitual residence

have jurisdiction.

Article 6

(1) For refugee children and children who, due to disturbances occurring in

their country, are internationally displaced, the authorities of the Contracting State

on the territory of which these children are present as a result of their displacement

have the jurisdiction provided for in paragraph 1 of Article 5.

PROTECTION OF CHILDREN (HAGUE CONVENTION)

(2) The provisions of the preceding paragraph also apply to children whose

habitual residence cannot be established.

Article 7

(1) In case of wrongful removal or retention of the child, the authorities of the

Contracting State in which the child was habitually resident immediately before the

removal or retention keep their jurisdiction until the child has acquired a habitual

residence in another State, and

(a) each person, institution or other body having rights of custody has

acquiesced in the removal or retention; or

(b) the child has resided in that other State for a period of at least one year

after the person, institution or other body having rights of custody has

or should have had knowledge of the whereabouts of the child, no

request for return lodged within that period is still pending, and the

child is settled in his or her new environment.

(2)

The removal or the retention of a child is to be considered wrongful where -

(a) it is in breach of rights of custody attributed to a person, an institution

or any other body, either jointly or alone, under the law of the State in

which the child was habitually resident immediately before the removal

or retention; and

(b) at the time of removal or retention those rights were actually exercised,

either jointly or alone, or would have been so exercised but for the

removal or retention.

The rights of custody mentioned in sub-paragraph (a) above, may arise in

particular by operation of law or by reason of a judicial or administrative decision,

or by reason of an agreement having legal effect under the law of that State.

(3) So long as the authorities first mentioned in paragraph (1) keep their

jurisdiction, the authorities of the Contracting State to which the child has been

removed or in which he or she has been retained can take only such urgent measures

under Article 11 as are necessary for the protection of the person or property of the

Article 8

(1) By way of exception, the authority of a Contracting State having jurisdiction

under Article 5 or 6, if it considers that the authority of another Contracting State

would be better placed in the particular case to assess the best interests of the child,

request that other authority, directly or with the assistance of the central

authority of its State, to assume jurisdiction to take such measures of

protection as it considers to be necessary, or

suspend consideration of the case and invite the parties to introduce

such a request before the authority of that other State.

(2) The Contracting States whose authorities may be addressed as provided in

the preceding paragraph are

(a) a State of which the child is a national,

(b) a State in which property of the child is located,

(c) a State whose authorities are seised of an application for divorce or

legal separation of the child’s parents, or for annulment of their

marriage,

PROTECTION OF CHILDREN (HAGUE CONVENTION)

(d) a State with which the child has a substantial connection.

(3)

The authorities concerned may proceed to an exchange of views.

(4) The authority addressed as provided in paragraph (1) may assume

jurisdiction, in place of the authority having jurisdiction under Article 5 or 6, if it

considers that this is in the child’s best interests.

Article 9

(1) If the authorities of a Contracting State referred to in Article 8, paragraph

(2), consider that they are better placed in the particular case to assess the child’s

best interests, they may either

-

request the competent authority of the Contracting State of the habitual

residence of the child, directly or with the assistance of the Central

Authority of that State, that they be authorised to exercise jurisdiction to

take the measures of protection which they consider to be necessary, or

-

invite the parties to introduce such a request before the authority of the

Contracting State of the habitual residence of the child.

(2)

The authorities concerned may proceed to an exchange of views.

(3) The authority initiating the request may exercise jurisdiction in place of the

authority of the Contracting State of the habitual residence of the child only if the

latter authority has accepted the request.

Article 10

(1) Without prejudice to Articles 5 to 9, the authorities of a Contracting State

exercising jurisdiction to decide upon an application for divorce or legal separation

of the parents of a child habitually resident in another Contracting State, or for

annulment of their marriage, may, if the law of their State so provides, take measures

directed to the protection of the person or property of such child if

(a) at the time of commencement of the proceedings, one of his or her

parents habitually resides in that State and one of them has parental

responsibility in relation to the child, and

(b) the jurisdiction of these authorities to take such measures has been

accepted by the parents, as well as by any other person who has parental

responsibility in relation to the child, and is in the best interests of the

child.

(2) The jurisdiction provided for by paragraph (1) to take measures for the

protection of the child ceases as soon as the decision allowing or refusing the

application for divorce, legal separation or annulment of the marriage has become

final, or the proceedings have come to an end for another reason.

Article 11

(1) In all cases of urgency, the authorities of any Contracting State in whose

territory the child or property belonging to the child is present have jurisdiction to

take any necessary measures of protection.

(2) The measures taken under the preceding paragraph with regard to a child

habitually resident in a Contracting State shall lapse as soon as the authorities which

have jurisdiction under Articles 5 to 10 have taken the measures required by the

situation.

(3) The measures taken under paragraph (1) with regard to a child who is

habitually resident in a non-Contracting State shall lapse in each Contracting State as

soon as measures required by the situation and taken by the authorities of another

PROTECTION OF CHILDREN (HAGUE CONVENTION)

State are recognised in the Contracting State in question.

Article 12

(1) Subject to Article 7, the authorities of a Contracting State in whose territory

the child or property belonging to the child is present have jurisdiction to take

measures of a provisional character for the protection of the person or property of

the child which have a territorial effect limited to the State in question, in so far as

such measures are not incompatible with measures already taken by authorities

which have jurisdiction under Articles 5 to 10.

(2) The measures taken under the preceding paragraph with regard to a child

habitually resident in a Contracting State shall lapse as soon as the authorities which

have jurisdiction under Articles 5 to 10 have taken a decision in respect of the

measures of protection which may be required by the situation.

(3) The measures taken under paragraph (1) with regard to a child who is

habitually resident in a non-Contracting State shall lapse in the Contracting State

where the measures were taken as soon as measures required by the situation and

taken by the authorities of another State are recognised in the Contracting State in

question.

Article 13

(1) The authorities of a Contracting State which have jurisdiction under Articles

5 to 10 to take measures for the protection of the person or property of the child must

abstain from exercising this jurisdiction if, at the time of the commencement of the

proceedings, corresponding measures have been requested from the authorities of

another Contracting State having jurisdiction under Articles 5 to 10 at the time of the

request and are still under consideration.

(2) The provisions of the preceding paragraph shall not apply if the authorities

before whom the request for measures was initially introduced have declined

jurisdiction.

Article 14

The measures taken in application of Articles 5 to 10 remain in force according to

their terms, even if a change of circumstances has eliminated the basis upon which

jurisdiction was founded, so long as the authorities which have jurisdiction under the

Convention have not modified, replaced or terminated such measures.

CHAPTER III - APPLICABLE LAW

Article 15

(1) In exercising their jurisdiction under the provisions of Chapter II, the

authorities of the Contracting States shall apply their own law.

(2) However, in so far as the protection of the person or the property of the child

requires, they may exceptionally apply or take into consideration the law of another

State with which the situation has a substantial connection.

(3) If the child’s habitual residence changes to another Contracting State, the

law of that other State governs, from the time of the change, the conditions of

application of the measures taken in the State of the former habitual residence.

Article 16

(1) The attribution or extinction of parental responsibility by operation of law,

without the intervention of a judicial or administrative authority, is governed by the

law of the State of the habitual residence of the child.

PROTECTION OF CHILDREN (HAGUE CONVENTION)

(2) The attribution or extinction of parental responsibility by an agreement or a

unilateral act, without intervention of a judicial or administrative authority, is

governed by the law of the State of the child’s habitual residence at the time when

the agreement or unilateral act takes effect.

(3) Parental responsibility which exists under the law of the State of the child’s

habitual residence subsists after a change of that habitual residence to another State.

(4) If the child’s habitual residence changes, the attribution of parental

responsibility by operation of law to a person who does not already have such

responsibility is governed by the law of the State of the new habitual residence.

Article 17

The exercise of parental responsibility is governed by the law of the State of the

child’s habitual residence. If the child’s habitual residence changes, it is governed by

the law of the State of the new habitual residence.

Article 18

The parental responsibility referred to in Article 16 may be terminated, or the

conditions of its exercise modified, by measures taken under this Convention.

Article 19

(1) The validity of a transaction entered into between a third party and another

person who would be entitled to act as the child’s legal representative under the law

of the State where the transaction was concluded cannot be contested, and the third

party cannot be held liable, on the sole ground that the other person was not entitled

to act as the child’s legal representative under the law designated by the provisions

of this Chapter, unless the third party knew or should have known that the parental

responsibility was governed by the latter law.

(2) The preceding paragraph applies only if the transaction was entered into

between persons present on the territory of the same State.

Article 20

The provisions of this Chapter apply even if the law designated by them is the law

of a non-Contracting State.

Article 21

(1) In this Chapter the term "law" means the law in force in a State other than its

choice of law rules.

(2) However, if the law applicable according to Article 16 is that of a non-

Contracting State and if the choice of law rules of that State designate the law of

another non-Contracting State which would apply its own law, the law of the latter

State applies. If that other non-Contracting State would not apply its own law, the

applicable law is that designated by Article 16.

Article 22

The application of the law designated by the provisions of this Chapter can be

refused only if this application would be manifestly contrary to public policy, taking

into account the best interests of the child.

CHAPTER IV - RECOGNITION AND ENFORCEMENT

Article 23

(1) The measures taken by the authorities of a Contracting State shall be

recognised by operation of law in all other Contracting States.

PROTECTION OF CHILDREN (HAGUE CONVENTION)

(2)

Recognition may however be refused -

(a) if the measure was taken by an authority whose jurisdiction was not

based on one of the grounds provided for in Chapter II;

(b) if the measure was taken, except in a case of urgency, in the context of a

judicial or administrative proceeding, without the child having been

provided the opportunity to be heard, in violation of fundamental

principles of procedure of the requested State;

(c) on the request of any person claiming that the measure infringes his or

her parental responsibility, if such measure was taken, except in a case

of urgency, without such person having been given an opportunity to be

heard;

(d) if such recognition is manifestly contrary to public policy of the

requested State, taking into account the best interests of the child;

(e) if the measure is incompatible with a later measure taken in the non-

Contracting State of the habitual residence of the child, where this later

measure fulfils the requirements for recognition in the requested State;

(f) if the procedure provided in Article 33 has not been complied with.

Article 24

Without prejudice to Article 23, paragraph (1), any interested person may request

from the competent authorities of a Contracting State that they decide on the

recognition or non-recognition of a measure taken in another Contracting State. The

procedure is governed by the law of the requested State.

Article 25

The authority of the requested State is bound by the findings of fact on which the

authority of the State where the measure was taken based its jurisdiction.

Article 26

(1) If measures taken in one Contracting State and enforceable there require

enforcement in another Contracting State, they shall, upon request by an interested

party, be declared enforceable or registered for the purpose of enforcement in that

other State according to the procedure provided in the law of the latter State.

(2) Each Contracting State shall apply to the declaration of enforceability or

registration a simple and rapid procedure.

(3) The declaration of enforceability or registration may be refused only for one

of the reasons set out in Article 23, paragraph (2).

Article 27

Without prejudice to such review as is necessary in the application of the

preceding Articles, there shall be no review of the merits of the measure taken.

Article 28

Measures taken in one Contracting State and declared enforceable, or registered

for the purpose of enforcement, in another Contracting State shall be enforced in the

latter State as if they had been taken by the authorities of that State. Enforcement

takes place in accordance with the law of the requested State to the extent provided

by such law, taking into consideration the best interests of the child.

PROTECTION OF CHILDREN (HAGUE CONVENTION)

CHAPTER V - CO-OPERATION

Article 29

(1) A Contracting State shall designate a central authority to discharge the

duties which are imposed by the Convention on such authorities.

(2) Federal States, States with more than one system of law or States having

autonomous territorial units shall be free to appoint more than one central authority

and to specify the territorial or personal extent of their functions. Where a State has

appointed more than one central authority, it shall designate the central authority to

which any communication may be addressed for transmission to the appropriate

central authority within that State.

Article 30

(1) Central authorities shall co-operate with each other and promote co-

operation amongst the competent authorities in their States to achieve the purposes

of the Convention.

(2) They shall, in connection with the application of the Convention, take

appropriate steps to provide information as to the laws of, and services available in,

their States relating to the protection of children.

Article 31

The central authority of a Contracting State, either directly or through public

authorities or other bodies, shall take all appropriate steps to -

(a) facilitate the communications and offer the assistance provided for in

Articles 8 and 9 and in this Chapter;

(b) facilitate, by mediation, conciliation or similar means, agreed solutions

for the protection of the person or property of the child in situations to

which the Convention applies;

(c) provide, on the request of a competent authority of another Contracting

State, assistance in discovering the whereabouts of a child where it

appears that the child may be present and in need of protection within

the territory of the requested State.

Article 32

On a request made with supporting reasons by the central authority or other

competent authority of any Contracting State with which the child has a substantial

connection, the central authority of the Contracting State in which the child is

habitually resident and present may, directly or through public authorities or other

bodies,

(a) provide a report on the situation of the child;

(b) request the competent authority of its State to consider the need to take

measures for the protection of the person or property of the child.

Article 33

(1) If an authority having jurisdiction under Articles 5 to 10 contemplates the

placement of the child in a foster family or institutional care, or the provision of care

by kafala or an analogous institution, and if such placement or such provision of care

is to take place in another Contracting State, it shall first consult with the central

authority or other competent authority of the latter State. To that effect it shall

transmit a report on the child together with the reasons for the proposed placement or

provision of care.

PROTECTION OF CHILDREN (HAGUE CONVENTION)

(2) The decision on the placement or provision of care may be made in the

requesting State only if the central authority or other competent authority of the

requested State has consented to the placement or provision of care, taking into

account the child’s best interests.

Article 34

(1) Where a measure of protection is contemplated, the competent authorities

under the Convention, if the situation of the child so requires, may request any

authority of another Contracting State which has information relevant to the

protection of the child to communicate such information.

(2) A Contracting State may declare that requests under paragraph (1) shall be

communicated to its authorities only through its central authority.

Article 35

(1) The competent authorities of a Contracting State may request the authorities

of another Contracting State to assist in the implementation of measures of

protection taken under this Convention, especially in securing the effective exercise

of rights of access as well as of the right to maintain direct contacts on a regular

basis.

(2) The authorities of a Contracting State in which the child does not habitually

reside may, on the request of a parent residing in that State who is seeking to obtain

or to maintain access to the child, gather information or evidence and may make a

finding on the suitability of that parent to exercise access and on the conditions

under which access is to be exercised. An authority exercising jurisdiction under

Articles 5 to 10 to determine an application concerning access to the child, shall

admit and consider such information, evidence and finding before reaching its

decision.

(3) An authority having jurisdiction under Articles 5 to 10 to decide on access

may adjourn a proceeding pending the outcome of a request made under paragraph

(2), in particular, when it is considering an application to restrict or terminate access

rights granted in the State of the child’s former habitual residence.

(4) Nothing in this Article shall prevent an authority having jurisdiction under

Articles 5 to 10 from taking provisional measures pending the outcome of the

request made under paragraph (2).

Article 36

In any case where the child is exposed to a serious danger, the competent

authorities of the Contracting State where measures for the protection of the child

have been taken or are under consideration, if they are informed that the child’s

residence has changed to, or that the child is present in another State, shall inform

the authorities of that other State about the danger involved and the measures taken

or under consideration.

Article 37

An authority shall not request or transmit any information under this Chapter if to

do so would, in its opinion, be likely to place the child’s person or property in

danger, or constitute a serious threat to the liberty or life of a member of the child’s

family.

Article 38

(1) Without prejudice to the possibility of imposing reasonable charges for the

provision of services, central authorities and other public authorities of Contracting

States shall bear their own costs in applying the provisions of this Chapter.

PROTECTION OF CHILDREN (HAGUE CONVENTION)

(2) Any Contracting State may enter into agreements with one or more other

Contracting States concerning the allocation of charges.

Article 39

Any Contracting State may enter into agreements with one or more other

Contracting States with a view to improving the application of this Chapter in their

mutual relations. The States which have concluded such an agreement shall transmit

a copy to the depositary of the Convention.

CHAPTER VI - GENERAL PROVISIONS

Article 40

(1) The authorities of the Contracting State of the child’s habitual residence, or

of the Contracting State where a measure of protection has been taken, may deliver

to the person having parental responsibility or to the person entrusted with

protection of the child’s person or property, at his or her request, a certificate

indicating the capacity in which that person is entitled to act and the powers

conferred upon him or her.

(2) The capacity and powers indicated in the certificate are presumed to be

vested in that person, in the absence of proof to the contrary.

(3) Each Contracting State shall designate the authorities competent to draw up

the certificate.

Article 41

Personal data gathered or transmitted under the Convention shall be used only for

the purposes for which they were gathered or transmitted.

Article 42

The authorities to whom information is transmitted shall ensure its confidentiality,

in accordance with the law of their State.

Article 43

All documents forwarded or delivered under this Convention shall be exempt from

legalisation or any analogous formality.

Article 44

Each Contracting State may designate the authorities to which requests under

Articles 8, 9 and 33 are to be addressed.

Article 45

(1) The designations referred to in Articles 29 and 44 shall be communicated to

the Permanent Bureau of the Hague Conference on Private International Law.

(2) The declaration referred to in Article 34, paragraph (2), shall be made to the

depositary of the Convention.

Article 46

A Contracting State in which different systems of law or sets of rules of law apply

to the protection of the child and his or her property shall not be bound to apply the

rules of the Convention to conflicts solely between such different systems or sets of

rules of law.

Article 47

In relation to a State in which two or more systems of law or sets of rules of law

with regard to any matter dealt with in this Convention apply in different territorial

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(1) any reference to habitual residence in that State shall be construed as

referring to habitual residence in a territorial unit;

(2) any reference to the presence of the child in that State shall be construed

as referring to presence in a territorial unit;

(3) any reference to the location of property of the child in that State shall

be construed as referring to location of property of the child in a

territorial unit;

(4) any reference to the State of which the child is a national shall be

construed as referring to the territorial unit designated by the law of that

State or, in the absence of relevant rules, to the territorial unit with

which the child has the closest connection;

(5) any reference to the State whose authorities are seised of an application

for divorce or legal separation of the child’s parents, or for annulment of

their marriage, shall be construed as referring to the territorial unit

whose authorities are seised of such application;

(6) any reference to the State with which the child has a substantial

connection shall be construed as referring to the territorial unit with

which the child has such connection;

(7) any reference to the State to which the child has been removed or in

which he or she has been retained shall be construed as referring to the

relevant territorial unit to which the child has been removed or in which

he or she has been retained;

(8) any reference to bodies or authorities of that State, other than central

authorities, shall be construed as referring to those authorised to act in

the relevant territorial unit;

(9) any reference to the law or procedure or authority of the State in which

a measure has been taken shall be construed as referring to the law or

procedure or authority of the territorial unit in which such measure was

taken;

(10) any reference to the law or procedure or authority of the requested State

shall be construed as referring to the law or procedure or authority of

the territorial unit in which recognition or enforcement is sought.

Article 48

For the purpose of identifying the applicable law under Chapter III, in relation to a

State which comprises two or more territorial units each of which has its own system

of law or set of rules of law in respect of matters covered by this Convention, the

following rules apply -

(a) if there are rules in force in such a State identifying which territorial

unit’s law is applicable, the law of that unit applies;

(b) in the absence of such rules, the law of the relevant territorial unit as

defined in Article 47 applies.

Article 49

For the purpose of identifying the applicable law under Chapter III, in relation to a

State which has two or more systems of law or sets of rules of law applicable to

different categories of persons in respect of matters covered by this Convention, the

following rules apply -

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(a) if there are rules in force in such a State identifying which among such

laws applies, that law applies;

(b) in the absence of such rules, the law of the system or the set of rules of

law with which the child has the closest connection applies.

Article 50

This Convention shall not affect the application of the Convention of 25 October

1980 on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction, as between Parties to

both Conventions. Nothing, however, precludes provisions of this Convention from

being invoked for the purposes of obtaining the return of a child who has been

wrongfully removed or retained or of organising access rights.

Article 51

In relations between the Contracting States this Convention replaces the

Convention of 5 October 1961 concerning the powers of authorities and the law

applicable in respect of the protection of minors, and the Convention governing the

guardianship of minors, signed at The Hague 12 June 1902, without prejudice to the

recognition of measures taken under the Convention of 5 October 1961 mentioned

above.

Article 52

(1) This Convention does not affect any international instrument to which

Contracting States are Parties and which contains provisions on matters governed by

the Convention, unless a contrary declaration is made by the States Parties to such

instrument.

(2) This Convention does not affect the possibility for one or more Contracting

States to conclude agreements which contain, in respect of children habitually

resident in any of the States Parties to such agreements, provisions on matters

governed by this Convention.

(3) Agreements to be concluded by one or more Contracting States on matters

within the scope of this Convention do not affect, in the relationship of such States

with other Contracting States, the application of the provisions of this Convention.

(4) The preceding paragraphs also apply to uniform laws based on special ties of

a regional or other nature between the States concerned.

Article 53

(1) The Convention shall apply to measures only if they are taken in a State

after the Convention has entered into force for that State.

(2) The Convention shall apply to the recognition and enforcement of measures

taken after its entry into force as between the State where the measures have been

taken and the requested State.

Article 54

(1) Any communication sent to the central authority or to another authority of a

Contracting State shall be in the original language, and shall be accompanied by a

translation into the official language or one of the official languages of the other

State or, where that is not feasible, a translation into French or English.

(2) However, a Contracting State may, by making a reservation in accordance

with Article 60, object to the use of either French or English, but not both.

PROTECTION OF CHILDREN (HAGUE CONVENTION)

Article 55

(1)

A Contracting State may, in accordance with Article 60,

(a) reserve the jurisdiction of its authorities to take measures directed to the

protection of property of a child situated on its territory;

(b) reserve the right not to recognise any parental responsibility or measure

in so far as it is incompatible with any measure taken by its authorities

in relation to that property.

(2)

The reservation may be restricted to certain categories of property.

Article 56

The Secretary General of the Hague Conference on Private International Law shall

at regular intervals convoke a Special Commission in order to review the practical

operation of the Convention.

CHAPTER VII - FINAL CLAUSES

Article 57

(1) The Convention shall be open for signature by the States which were

Members of the Hague Conference on Private International Law at the time of its

Eighteenth Session.

(2) It shall be ratified, accepted or approved and the instruments of ratification,

acceptance or approval shall be deposited with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the

Kingdom of the Netherlands, depositary of the Convention.

Article 58

(1) Any other State may accede to the Convention after it has entered into force

in accordance with Article 61, paragraph (1).

(2)

The instrument of accession shall be deposited with the depositary.

(3) Such accession shall have effect only as regards the relations between the

acceding State and those Contracting States which have not raised an objection to its

accession in the six months after the receipt of the notification referred to in sub-

paragraph (b) of Article 63. Such an objection may also be raised by States at the

time when they ratify, accept or approve the Convention after an accession. Any

such objection shall be notified to the depositary.

Article 59

(1) If a State has two or more territorial units in which different systems of law

are applicable in relation to matters dealt with in this Convention, it may at the time

of signature, ratification, acceptance, approval or accession declare that the

Convention shall extend to all its territorial units or only to one or more of them and

may modify this declaration by submitting another declaration at any time.

(2) Any such declaration shall be notified to the depositary and shall state

expressly the territorial units to which the Convention applies.

(3) If a State makes no declaration under this Article, the Convention is to

extend to all territorial units of that State.

Article 60

(1) Any State may, not later than the time of ratification, acceptance, approval

or accession, or at the time of making a declaration in terms of Article 59, make one

or both of the reservations provided for in Articles 54, paragraph (2), and 55. No

other reservation shall be permitted.

PROTECTION OF CHILDREN (HAGUE CONVENTION)

(2) Any State may at any time withdraw a reservation it has made. The

withdrawal shall be notified to the depositary.

(3) The reservation shall cease to have effect on the first day of the third

calendar month after the notification referred to in the preceding paragraph.

Article 61

(1) The Convention shall enter into force on the first day of the month following

the expiration of three months after the deposit of the third instrument of ratification,

acceptance or approval referred to in Article 57.

(2)

Thereafter the Convention shall enter into force -

(a) for each State ratifying, accepting or approving it subsequently, on the

first day of the month following the expiration of three months after the

deposit of its instrument of ratification, acceptance, approval or

accession;

(b) for each State acceding, on the first day of the month following the

expiration of three months after the expiration of the period of six

months provided in Article 58, paragraph (3);

(c) for a territorial unit to which the Convention has been extended in

conformity with Article 59, on the first day of the month following the

expiration of three months after the notification referred to in that

Article.

Article 62

(1) A State Party to the Convention may denounce it by a notification in writing

addressed to the depositary. The denunciation may be limited to certain territorial

units to which the Convention applies.

(2) The denunciation takes effect on the first day of the month following the

expiration of twelve months after the notification is received by the depositary.

Where a longer period for the denunciation to take effect is specified in the

notification, the denunciation takes effect upon the expiration of such longer period.

Article 63

The depositary shall notify the States Members of the Hague Conference on

Private International Law and the States which have acceded in accordance with

Article 58 of the following -

(a) the signatures, ratifications, acceptances and approvals referred to in

Article 57;

(b) the accessions and objections raised to accessions referred to in Article

58;

(c) the date on which the Convention enters into force in accordance with

Article 61;

(d) the declarations referred to in Articles 34, paragraph (2), and 59;

(e) the agreements referred to in Article 39;

(f) the reservations referred to in Articles 54, paragraph (2), and 55 and the

withdrawals referred to in Article 60, paragraph (2);

(g) the denunciations referred to in Article 62.

In witness whereof the undersigned, being duly authorised thereto, have signed

this Convention.

PROTECTION OF CHILDREN (HAGUE CONVENTION)

DONE at The Hague, on the 19th day of October 1996, in the English and French

languages, both texts being equally authentic, in a single copy which shall be

deposited in the archives of the Government of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, and

of which a certified copy shall be sent, through diplomatic channels, to each of the

States Members of the Hague Conference on Private International Law at the date of

its Eighteenth Session.

In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires -

"central authority" means the Authority appointed under article

6;

"child" means a person under the age of eighteen years;

"Contracting State" means those States, other than Malta, as shall

from time to time be specified by the Minister by an order made

under article 4;

"Convention" means the Convention on Jurisdiction, Applicable

Law, Recognition, Enforcement and Cooperation in respect of

Parental Responsibility and Measures for the Protection of

Children concluded on the 19th October, 1996 within the Hague

Conference on Private International Law, the text of which is set

out in the First Schedule;

"judgment" means a judgment or order which is directed to the

protection of the person or property of a child and is made either by

a court in the State or by a competent judicial or administrative

authority of another contracting state;

"Malta" has the same meaning assigned to it by article 124 of the

Constitution;

"measure" means a judgment or decision which is made in

accordance with Chapter II of the Convention, and references to the

taking of a measure shall be construed as references to the making

of such a judgment or decision;

"the Minister" means the Minister responsible for justice;

"Non-Contracting State" means any State which is not a

Contracting State;

"prescribed" means prescribed by regulations made by the

Minister under this Act.

By virtue of this Act, the Government of Malta is hereby

authorised to ratify the Convention.

(1) The Minister may, by order in the Gazette, from time to

time specify the Contracting States, other than Malta, for the

PROTECTION OF CHILDREN (HAGUE CONVENTION)

purposes of the Convention.

(2) Such order shall specify the date of coming into force of the

Convention, as between Malta and any State specified in the order.

(3) Where the Convention applies, or applies only, to a

particular territory or particular territories specified in a declaration

made by a Contracting State, reference to that State in subarticles

(1) and (2) shall be construed as references to that territory or those

territories under Article 59 of the Convention.

Subject to the provisions of this Act, the provisions of the

Convention shall have the force of law in Malta.

The functions under the Convention of a central authority shall

be discharged by the Chief Executive Officer of the Social Care

Standards Authority.

(1) References in the Convention to authorities or

authority, however qualified, shall be construed, where they occur -

(a) in Chapter II of the Convention, as including

references to the appropriate court,

(b) in Articles 24, 25 and 28, as references to the Court of

Appeal,

(c) in Articles 32, 33, 34, 35(1), 36 and 37, as including

references to the appropriate court, and

(d) in Article 35(2), as including a reference to the Civil

Court (Family Section).

(2) In proceedings under Chapter IV of the Convention for the

recognition, enforcement or non-recognition of a measure taken in

another contracting state, the Court of Appeal pursuant to that

Chapter and subject to subarticle (5) of this article, if applicable -

(a) if the request is for the recognition or enforcement of

the measure, order either -

(i) that the measure be recognised or enforced in

whole or in part, subject to any necessary

modifications or adaptations, or

(ii) that the request be refused, or

(b) if the request is for the non-recognition of the measure,

order either -

(i) that the measure not be recognised, or

(ii) that it be recognised or enforced in whole or in

part, subject to any necessary modifications or

adaptations.

(3) On the hearing of a request under Article 35(2) of the

Convention by a parent residing in the State who is seeking to

obtain or maintain access to his or her child (being a child who

does not habitually reside therein), the Civil Court (Family Section)

shall by order declare either -

(a) that in its opinion the person is suitable to exercise

access to the child (in which case the Court may,

where appropriate, specify the conditions under which

PROTECTION OF CHILDREN (HAGUE CONVENTION)

access should be exercised), or

(b) that the person is not suitable to exercise access to the

child.

(4) If, pursuant to Article 55(1)(a) of the Convention, the State

has reserved the jurisdiction of its authorities to take measures

directed to the protection of property (or certain categories of

property) of a child situated on its territory in cases where those

authorities would not otherwise have jurisdiction under the

Convention, then, for so long as the reservation has not been

withdrawn, the appropriate courts shall in those cases have the

jurisdiction so reserved.

(5) If, pursuant to Article 55(1)(b) of the Convention, the State

has reserved the right not to recognise any parental responsibility

or measure in so far as it is incompatible with any measure taken by

its authorities in relation to any such property or categories of

property mentioned in subarticle (4), then, for so long as the

reservation has not been withdrawn, the First Hall of the Civil

Court may refuse recognition of any such parental responsibility or

measure to the extent that it is so incompatible.

(1) For the purposes of Articles 24, 25 and 28 of the

Convention, any interested person may make an application in the

registry of the Court of Appeal for the recognition or non-

recognition of a decision or measure taken in another Contracting

State.

(2) For the purposes of Article 35(2) of the Convention, a

parent may make an application in the registry of the Civil Court

(Family Section) for obtaining or maintaining access to his or her

child being a child who does not habitually reside in the State.

The provisions of the Code of Organization and Civil

Procedure relative to appeals from decisions of the Civil Court

(Family Section) shall apply to such decisions.

(1) Any document purporting to be a document forwarded

or delivered under the Convention may be admitted as evidence

that it is such a document and as evidence of any matter to which it

relates, subject to it being a duly authenticated copy of a decision,

order or measure; and any document purporting to be such a copy

shall be deemed to be a true copy unless the contrary is shown.

(2) For the purposes of subarticle (1), a copy is duly

authenticated if it bears the seal, or is signed by a judge or officer

of the authority in question.

(3) For the purposes of the Convention, any certified copy of

any such document, shall be sufficient evidence of anything stated

in the document.

The Court may, either directly or with the assistance of the

central authority, address requests for the purposes of Articles 8 or

9 of the Convention, to the appropriate authority in another

contracting State.

Where the central authority is requested to provide

PROTECTION OF CHILDREN (HAGUE CONVENTION)

information relating to a child under Articles 31, 32 or 34 of the

Convention, it may

(a) request any person to make a report to it in writing

with respect to any matter which appears to it to be

relevant;

(b) request any court to which a written report relating to

the child has been made to send it a copy of the report,

and such a request shall be duly complied with.

(1) The Rule-Making Board set up under article 29 of the

Code of Organization and Civil Procedure may make such

provision for giving effect to this Act as appears to that Board to be

necessary or expedient.

(2) Without prejudice to the generality of subarticle (1), rules

of court may make provision -

(a) with respect to the procedure on applications to a court

under any provision of this Act and with respect to the

documents and information to be furnished;

(b) for the giving of directions requiring the disclosure of

information about any child who is the subject of

proceedings under this Act and for safeguarding its

welfare.

(3) The Minister responsible for justice may by regulations

under this subarticle establish the fees payable in the registry of the

courts in relation to the filing of judicial acts in connection with

any procedure under this Act

Provided that until such fees are so established by the

Minister, the fees contained in the Code of Organization and Civil

Procedure shall apply.

The Minister may make regulations prescribing anything

that in virtue of this Act is required to be or may be prescribed and

generally for carrying out the provisions of this Act and for doing

anything that may be required for the purpose of satisfying the

obligations of Malta under the Convention.

In the Schedule to this Act, should there be any conflict

between the English and the Maltese texts, the English text shall

prevail.

PROTECTION OF CHILDREN (HAGUE CONVENTION)