In Support of Resources Needed to Facilitate Compliance with Family Law Related International Treaties
Resolution 1: In Support of Resources Needed to Facilitate Compliance with Family Law Related International Treaties
WHEREAS, in our expanding global society international treaties are needed to facilitate cooperation and communication among countries and the recognition and enforcement of foreign decrees and judgments; and
WHEREAS, the United States is currently a party to the 1980 Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction and the 1993 Hague Convention on the Protection of Children and Co-operation in respect of Intercountry Adoption (Adoption Convention) and is considering ratification of other family law related international treaties; and
WHEREAS, with the recent implementation of the Adoption Convention and the anticipated ratification of additional family law related international treaties, resources and a formalized structure are needed to support judges and court personnel as they endeavor to comply with treaty obligations; and
WHEREAS, such resources could include: (1) the development of a body of information regarding the treaties that is readily available to judges and court personnel; (2) sponsorship of national training opportunities for the state points of contact; and (3) the development of a dedicated website within the National Center for State Courts (NCSC) website for resource material;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Conference of Chief Justices and the Conference of State Court Administrators encourage the United States Department of State to work with the Conferences and the NCSC to provide state courts with the resources needed to comply with their obligations under the 1980 Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction, the 1993 Hague Convention on the Protection of Children and Co-operation in respect of Intercountry Adoption and other family law related international treaties.
Adopted as proposed by the CCJ/COSCA Courts, Children and Families Committee at the CCJ/COSCA Annual Meeting in August 2009.