The Hague’s Oldest Intergovernmental Organisation – a Quiet Force Behind Cross-Border Justice
The Oldest Intergovernmental Organisation in The Hague
The Hague is known around the world as the City of Peace and Justice. It is home to many of the foremost international legal institutions – from the International Court of Justice to the International Criminal Court, and a wide range of tribunals and organisations devoted to public international law and criminal justice.
What most people may not know, however, is that the oldest of all these international legal organisations is the Hague Conference on Private International Law, nowadays also known as the HCCH. Its origins date back to 1893, making it not only the oldest intergovernmental organisation in The Hague but also one of the oldest in the world.
It was Dutch jurist Tobias Asser – later awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1911 – who initiated and organised the very first ‘Hague Conference’ in 1893, with the vision of working towards the unification of rules of private international law. His aim was to establish practical legal frameworks to address the growing number of cross-border situations affecting individuals, families, and businesses.
Following that first session, five more ad hoc meetings were held in The Hague. After the Second World War, the HCCH was transformed into a permanent intergovernmental organisation, through the adoption of its Statute in 1951.
Today, the HCCH is not only the oldest of The Hague’s intergovernmental organisations, but also the only one with a legislative mandate. According to Article 1 of its Statute, its purpose is to “work for the progressive unification of the rules of private international law.” It does so mainly by developing international treaties known as HCCH Conventions. These Conventions address legal questions that arise whenever people, families, or companies are engaged in cross-border interactions.
What Is Private International Law?
Private international law (PIL) is concerned with legal questions that arise when the activities or situations of individuals or entities in the area of private law are connected to more than one country – in contrast to public international law, which governs relations between States.
At its heart, PIL asks three traditional questions: 1) Jurisdiction – which country’s courts are competent to hear such an international case? 2) Applicable law – which country’s laws should apply to the issue at stake? 3) Recognition and enforcement – how can a judgment or decision be recognised and enforced in another country?
In today’s interconnected world, what I often call the ‘fourth dimension’ of private international law has become increasingly important: cooperation between States to overcome the practical challenges of cross-border cases. The HCCH has played a crucial role in developing this dimension of PIL. Whether in family matters, child protection, commercial transactions, or the circulation of public documents, judicial and administrative cooperation is essential to overcome the often very practical challenges that one faces in cross-border situations.
What makes private international law so elegant is that it builds legal bridges between countries and legal systems – while fully respecting their internal diversity. HCCH Conventions do not require States to change their civil codes, commercial codes, or family law. Instead, they create common frameworks that make cross-border cooperation smoother, more predictable, and more efficient. This is the beauty of private international law: unification where it matters, without sacrificing legal diversity.
Why ‘HCCH’?
The abbreviation ‘HCCH’ reflects the organisation’s name in its two previous official languages: Hague Conference on Private International Law (English), and Conférence de La Haye de droit international privé (French). In 2024, Spanish was added as the organisation’s third official language – and the contraction ‘HCCH’ works equally well with the Spanish name of the organisation: La Conferencia de La Haya de Derecho Internacional Privado.
A Global Network of Cooperation
Today, the HCCH counts 92 Members – 91 States and the European Union — from every continent. The most recent Member to join was Rwanda, in March 2025.
In addition, 66 non-Member States have become Contracting Parties to one or more HCCH Conventions – further broadening the network of cooperation. Altogether, 158 States or Parties are now linked to the work of the HCCH.
The organisation’s Conventions and Protocols have, as of June 2025, generated a total of 1036 ratifications or accessions (‘treaty actions’) – a remarkable achievement. To put this into perspective: if States wanted to establish an equivalent legal framework through bilateral agreements, they would need to conclude more than 33,000 such treaties. This demonstrates the power and efficiency of effective multilateralism – which is exactly what the HCCH stands for.
A Direct Impact on People’s Lives
What sets the HCCH apart is not only its longevity, mandate, or reach – but also its real-world impact on people’s lives as a result of the application of its Conventions.
One of the best-known examples is the 1961 Apostille Convention. This Convention eliminates the need for cumbersome procedures to authenticate public documents across borders. Instead of navigating lengthy bureaucratic processes through embassies or consulates, a person can now obtain a single Apostille certificate – accepted by all other Contracting Parties. The Apostille Convention is one of the most widely used international treaties in the world: it is applied around 35 million times a year and has 127 Contracting Parties.
Another example is the 1993 Adoption Convention, which ensures that international adoptions respect the best interests of the child and the rights of all parties involved. With 107 Contracting Parties, this Convention provides clear procedures and safeguards for families and children across borders.
In the commercial field, the 2019 Judgments Convention is the most recent addition to the body of HCCH instruments. It addresses the long-standing challenge of recognition and enforcement of foreign judgments in civil and commercial matters – a key issue for international trade and business. As I said during its adoption ceremony, the Judgments Convention is a real “game-changer” in international dispute resolution. Once widely ratified, it will make it far easier for judgments rendered in one country to be recognised and enforced in another, reducing uncertainty and legal costs for individuals and businesses alike.
Universality and Inclusiveness as a Strategic Goal
As we live in an increasingly globalised world, the relevance of the HCCH continues to grow. Every day, millions of people find themselves in cross-border situations – whether through family ties, education, work, or commerce.
A key strategic goal of the HCCH today is universality and inclusiveness. The organisation strives to ensure that its Conventions are available and effective for the widest possible range of States and legal traditions. By fostering broader membership and engagement, the HCCH aims to build a more inclusive and balanced global legal framework.
Concluding Thoughts
As I often say, we live in a world of private international law. In a time when headlines are too often dominated by division and disagreement between States, the HCCH offers a model of what quiet, consensus-based cooperation can achieve.
Its Conventions are developed through careful negotiation, respect for legal diversity, and expert legal craftsmanship. The result: practical legal solutions that help people navigate an ever more interconnected world.
In today’s complex and interdependent global landscape, we could use more of what the HCCH offers: a powerful example of international cooperation that builds trust, fosters consensus, and improves people’s lives across borders.
Written by Dr Christophe Bernasconi,
Secretary General of the HCCH