The Hague Child Abduction Convention at 45: Lessons Learned, Judicial Dialogue, and the Way Forward

🎓 Центърът за обучение на адвокати "Кръстю Цончев" съвместно с Комисията по семейно право към FBE · Fédération des Barreaux d’Europe (Федерация на европейските адвокатури – FBE) организира международен хибриден семинар, посветен на 45-годишнината от приемането на Хагската конвенция за гражданските аспекти на международното отвличане на деца. 📍 В продължение на повече от четири десетилетия Конвенцията оформя стандартите за трансгранична закрила на децата, съдебно сътрудничество и развитие на международното семейно право. Тази годишнина предоставя навременна възможност за равносметка, преоценка и поглед към бъдещето. 🌍 Този форум на високо равнище ще събере съдии, адвокати по международно семейно право, експерти от централни органи и представители на академичните среди от цял свят за съдържателен диалог относно развитието, предизвикателствата и бъдещата посока на Конвенцията. 📍 International Hybrid Seminar (in person & online) at the Attorney Training Centre, Sofia 🎓The Attorneys' Training Center in partnership with the Family Law Commission of the FBE · Fédération des Barreaux d’Europe (Federation of European Bar Associations (FBE) is pleased to announce an international hybrid seminar marking the 45th anniversary of the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction ⚖️ The Hague Child Abduction Convention at 45 Lessons Learned, Judicial Dialogue, and the Way Forward 📅 30 March 2026 – 9:00 – 17:00 EET 📍 Hybrid Event - online&in person 📌 Working language: EN 📍 Venue – Attorneys’ Training Center – 8 Tsar Kaloyan St., 4th fl., Sofia 🎯45 years after its adoption, the 1980 Hague Child Abduction Convention remains one of the most influential instruments of international judicial cooperation for the protection of children across borders. 🌍To mark this milestone, the Family Law Commission of the FBE · Fédération des Barreaux d’Europe, together with the Attorneys’ Training Center in Sofia, is co-organising an international high-level forum bringing together judges, academics, Central Authority experts, and leading international family law practitioners from across Europe and beyond for a professional dialogue on the evolution, challenges, and future direction of the Convention. ⚖️ Key themes of the forum: I – Return Mechanism or Procedural Labyrinth? Measuring Real Effectiveness under the 1980 Hague Convention II – The Limits of Discretion: Safeguarding the Architecture of the 1980 Convention III – From Grave Risk to Public Policy: Articles 13(1)(b) and 20 and the Recalibration of Refusal under the 1980 Convention IV – Beyond the Judgment: Mediation, Enforcement, and the Child’s Post-Abduction Experience 🎙️ Distinguished Speakers: 🎤 Opening Keynote Philippe Lortie – First Secretary, HCCH 📚 Members of the Judiciary: Joanna Dr. Guttzeit – Family Judge, International Hague Network of Judges, Germany Nataša Plavšić – Judge, Constitutional Court of Serbia Kamelia Purvanova - Judge, Sofia Appellate Court Katerina Racheva - Judge, Sofia Appellate Court 📚Academic experts: Prof. Marilyn Freeman, PhD – Westminster Law School, London; Boriana Musseva – Associate Professor of Private International Law, Sofia University Konstantinos Rokas – Associate Professor of Private International Law, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki 📚Leading International Family Law Practitioners: Yordanka Bekirska – President, FBE Family Law Commission, Bulgaria Alexandre Boiché – France Nuno Cardoso-Ribeiro – Portugal Armando Cecatiello – Italy Lea Gerasimović – Member, FBE Family Law Commission, Serbia Marzia B. Ghigliazza – Italy Mayte García – Member, FBE Family Law Commission, Spain Silvia Katzenmaier – Germany Carolina Marín Pedreño – Member, FBE Family Law Commission, England & Wales Alphonse Provinziano – California, USA Mert Yalcin – Turkey Liuda Yablokova – Russia Hansu YALAZ – France Eniko Fulop - Romania Sia Anadolieva - Bulgarian Chamber of Private Enforcement Agents Nikoleta Kavakova - Bulgarian Chamber of Private Enforcement Agents 🎤 Closing Keynote Address Véronique CHAUVEAU – France