Bolivia And The Hague Convention: What's The Deal?

Bolivia is not a member of the Hague Conference on Private International Law (HCCH) but it is a signatory to several Hague Conventions. On 13 July 2016, Bolivia acceded to the 1980 Hague Child Abduction Convention, becoming a contracting party to two conventions of the HCCH. In addition, Bolivia is a party to the 1993 Hague Convention on Protection of Children and Co-operation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption. On 6 September 2017, Bolivia also acceded to the 1961 Apostille Convention, which entered into force on 7 May 2018.

Bolivia is not a member of the HCCH

Bolivia is not a member of the Hague Conference on Private International Law (HCCH). However, it is a signatory to several Hague Conventions, demonstrating its commitment to international cooperation and legal harmony.

Bolivia has taken steps to align itself with key international agreements, even without being a full member of the HCCH. The nation is a party to the 1980 Hague Child Abduction Convention, which addresses the civil aspects of international child abduction. This convention entered into force for Bolivia on 1 October 2016, after the nation deposited its instrument of accession on 13 July 2016. This made Bolivia the 95th contracting state to the convention.

Additionally, Bolivia is also a party to the 1993 Hague Convention on Protection of Children and Co-operation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption. This convention underscores Bolivia's commitment to safeguarding the well-being of children in international adoption scenarios.

In recent years, Bolivia has continued to strengthen its international legal ties. On 6 September 2017, the nation acceded to the Apostille Convention, officially known as the Hague Convention of 5 October 1961 Abolishing the Requirement of Legalisation for Foreign Public Documents. This convention streamlines the process of legalising documents across borders, facilitating smoother international interactions. The Apostille Convention entered into force for Bolivia on 7 May 2018, marking another significant step in the country's international legal cooperation.

While Bolivia has not yet attained full membership in the HCCH, its active participation in these key conventions underscores its dedication to international legal harmony and cooperation. By aligning itself with these treaties, Bolivia has demonstrated its commitment to resolving transnational issues and promoting collaboration on a global scale.

Bolivia acceded to the Child Abduction Convention in 2016

On 13 July 2016, Bolivia deposited its instrument of accession to the Hague Convention of 25 October 1980 on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction. This convention entered into force for Bolivia on 1 October 2016. Bolivia became the 95th contracting state to the 1980 Child Abduction Convention.

Bolivia is not a member of the Hague Conference, but it is a contracting state to two conventions of the Hague Conference on Private International Law. These are the 1980 Child Abduction Convention and the Hague Convention of 29 May 1993 on Protection of Children and Co-operation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption.

Bolivia made two reservations to the Child Abduction Convention. The first, regarding article 24, requires that all foreign documents on restitution petitions in English or French must be translated into Spanish by an official translator. The second reservation, regarding article 26, states that the Bolivian government does not assume any commitment to pay for expenses derived from the participation of lawyers or legal counsel in the judicial proceedings. Bolivia also asserted that the age limit for parental authority rights in the convention is in line with Bolivian domestic law, which sets the limit at 18 years old.

The Hague Convention entered into force in 2018

The Hague Convention, officially known as the Convention of 2 July 2019 on the Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Judgments in Civil or Commercial Matters, is an international treaty that was concluded within the framework of the Hague Conference on Private International Law. While the "Judgements project" began in 1996, the convention itself was finalised and signed in 2019 and only entered into force on 1 September 2023 for the European Union (all 27 member states except Denmark) and Ukraine.

The Hague Convention of 2019 is the latest in a series of international treaties that were negotiated and signed during Hague Conferences. The first two such conferences took place in 1899 and 1907, resulting in several conventions and declarations that laid the groundwork for international law regarding the conduct of warfare and the laws of war and war crimes. These early conventions were among the first attempts to establish multilateral treaties addressing these issues and were largely based on the Lieber Code, which was issued by US President Abraham Lincoln during the American Civil War.

While Bolivia is not a Member State of the Hague Conference on Private International Law (HCCH), it has taken steps to join certain Hague Conventions in recent years. On 13 July 2016, Bolivia acceded to the 1980 Hague Child Abduction Convention, becoming the 95th Contracting State. This convention entered into force for Bolivia on 1 October 2016. Additionally, Bolivia joined the 1961 Apostille Convention by depositing its instrument of accession on 6 September 2017. This convention, which abolishes the requirement of legalisation for foreign public documents, entered into force for Bolivia on 7 May 2018.

By joining these conventions, Bolivia demonstrates its commitment to international cooperation and adherence to established norms in specific areas of law. While the 2019 Hague Convention has yet to enter into force for Bolivia, the country's participation in other Hague Conventions highlights its recognition of the importance of these international agreements.

Bolivia is a party to two Hague Conventions

Bolivia is a signatory to the Hague Convention of 25 October 1980 on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction. Bolivia deposited its instrument of accession to this convention on 13 July 2016, becoming the 95th contracting state. The convention entered into force for Bolivia on 1 October 2016.

The second convention that Bolivia is a party to is the Hague Convention of 29 May 1993 on Protection of Children and Co-operation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption.

On 6 September 2017, Bolivia also joined the Apostille Convention, which abolishes the requirement of legalisation for foreign public documents. This convention entered into force for Bolivia on 7 May 2018.

The Embassy of Bolivia was represented by Ambassador Mr Enrique Eduardo Rodríguez Veltze

Bolivia is a signatory to the Hague Convention, having joined the Hague Convention of 25 October 1980, on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction, and the Hague Convention of 29 May 1993, on the Protection of Children and Co-operation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption. On 6 September 2017, Bolivia also joined the Apostille Convention, abolishing the requirement of legalisation for foreign public documents.

On 13 July 2016, Bolivia deposited its instrument of accession to the 1980 Hague Child Abduction Convention and became the 95th contracting state. A ceremony took place at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands, where the Embassy of Bolivia was represented by Ambassador Mr Enrique Eduardo Rodríguez Veltze. Mr Luis Rojas Martínez, Minister Counsellor, and Katerin Brieger Valencia, First Secretary, also attended the ceremony.

Ambassador Rodríguez Veltze is a lawyer and judge who served as the interim president of Bolivia from June 2005 to January 2006. He assumed the presidency following the resignation of former president Carlos Mesa and served until Evo Morales was elected. Rodríguez Veltze also served as Chief Justice of the Bolivian Supreme Court and is currently the dean of the School of Law and Political Science of the Universidad Católica Boliviana in La Paz, Bolivia. He holds a master's degree in public administration from Harvard University's John F. Kennedy School of Government.

The Bolivian Embassy in the Netherlands, headed by Ambassador Rodríguez Veltze, promotes Bolivian interests in the Netherlands and plays a role in development, cultural affairs, and contacts with the local press. The embassy offers consular services for visitors from the Netherlands to Bolivia and Bolivian citizens in the Netherlands, including visa applications, passport renewals, and marriage registration.

Frequently asked questions