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Dec/Jan 2011Vol. 11, No. 10U.S. Signs Child Protection Convention

On October 22, 2010, the U.S. Ambassador to The Hague signed the Convention on Jurisdiction, Applicable Law, Recognition, Enforcement and Co-operation in Respect of Parental Responsibility and Measures for the Protection of Children, on behalf of the United States.

This Convention contains a number of benefits for children and families. It provides for foreign recognition and enforcement of custody and visitation orders, thereby strengthening the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction. It also includes provisions relating to runaway children and the cross-border placement of children in a foster family or institutional care.

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton commented that the signing, ".  .  .  reaffirms the deep commitment of the United States to protecting the rights and welfare of children around the world."

To read Secretary Clinton's full Statement, visit the Department of State website:

www.state.gov/secretary/rm/2010/10/149860.htm

To read the full text of the Convention, visit the website of the Hague Conference on International Law:

http://hcch.e-vision.nl/index_en.php?act=conventions.text&cid=70