Inter-American Network of Cooperation in Family and Child Law

Objectives, Background and Tools

StructureStructure

1. Objectives1. Objectives2. Timing Issues2. Timing Issues3. Tools3. Tools3. Public Component3. Public Component4. Private Component4. Private Component5. Secure Communication5. Secure Communication

Objectives of the Network:Objectives of the Network:• Create a comprehensive network of authorities of all Create a comprehensive network of authorities of all

OAS Member States and other interested participantsOAS Member States and other interested participants• Facilitate international cooperation in family law Facilitate international cooperation in family law • Reduce complexities in cross-border family law Reduce complexities in cross-border family law

transactionstransactions• Increase communication between authorities Increase communication between authorities • Coordinate with other organs, agencies and entities of Coordinate with other organs, agencies and entities of

the Inter-American system & multilateral organizationsthe Inter-American system & multilateral organizations• Protection of rights of women and children in the Protection of rights of women and children in the

AmericasAmericas

Method:Method:• Institutional Network of Competent Authorities

designated to act in international cooperation on family law and child protection

• Regular meetings of the Network• Mandate for secure and efficient cooperation

between OAS member states• Tools/features to facilitate cross-border cooperation• Free and ample access to all users of the Inter-

American system

Duration:Duration:• Informal Phase

• Pilot Projects• Preliminary Tools

• Transition Phase• Designation of Authorities• Technical Meetings

• Formal Phase• REMJA• Working Group

First Pilot First Pilot

Argentina Argentina

ColombiaColombia

El SalvadorEl Salvador

Spain Spain

Dominican RepublicDominican Republic

CanadaCanada

BahamasBahamas

United StatesUnited States

GrenadaGrenada

BrazilBrazil

MexicoMexico

Second PilotSecond Pilot

Informal Phase:Informal Phase:• Pilot Project 1

• Spanish Speaking States• Kickoff Process / Initial Discussion

• Pilot Project 2• English Speaking States• Bi-lingual tools

• Preliminary tools• Public Component• Private Component• Secure Communication

Transition Phase:Transition Phase:• REMJA-VIII

• Technical Meetings

• Refine Tools

• Designate Authorities

• Deliberate/Formalize

Formal Phase:Formal Phase:• REMJA-IX

• Creation of a Working Group

• Formal Chair by States

• Annual Meetings WG

• Bi Annual Meetings of REMJA

Network TimelineNetwork Timeline

Conclusion

Conclusion

ss Working Group

Working Group

REMJA

REMJA

IX

IX1st

Pilot

2nd

Pilot

Prelim

Tools

REMJA

VIII

Tech

Tech

Meeting(s)

Meeting(s)

Work MethodologyWork Methodology• Introduction to the system

• Preliminary network tools

• Suggestions for changing/improving/replacing

• Recommendations from meeting

• Calendar for developing tools

Background: MandatesBackground: Mandates• Charter of the OASCharter of the OAS

• Panama DeclarationPanama Declaration

• Summits of the AmericasSummits of the Americas

• Ministers of JusticeMinisters of Justice

• General AssemblyGeneral Assembly

• Inter-Americans conventions. Inter-Americans conventions.

First step• Study of Ratifications of and Adhesions to the

Inter-American Conventions on matters of cooperation

• Ratification of treaties• Designation of Central Authorities• Precursor of the creation of a Network of

Legal Cooperation

Central AuthoritiesCentral AuthoritiesFourteen Conventions of Legal Cooperation that require Fourteen Conventions of Legal Cooperation that require

designation of central authoritiesdesignation of central authorities

Private lawPrivate law• Rogatory letters• Preventive measures• Evidence• Family law

Public LawPublic Law• Extradition• Mutual assistance• Corruption• Armaments / Traffic • Judicial decisions

46%46% 41%41%

ImportanceImportance• Facilitate cooperation and mutual assistance between

states

• Provides the legal basis for legal practitioners and users of the Inter-American system

• Supports the implementation of rules of international law and the solution of controversies

• Legitimates the system of Inter-American treaties

Goals of the projectGoals of the project• DESIGNATEDESIGNATE:: Designate central authorities for those states

and instruments that are not part of the system • UPDATEUPDATE:: Require those states that have designated their

central authorities to update them to verify the information .

• STANDARDIZESTANDARDIZE:: Create a uniform/standardized system for the designation and actualization of Central Authorities, based on reliable, complete and updated information in a user-friendly, simple format

• NETWORKNETWORK:: Create a network of central authorities under the Inter-American conventions

Components:Components:• ANALYSISANALYSIS:: Tables analyzing the Inter-American conventions

on judicial cooperation

• NATIONAL STUDIESNATIONAL STUDIES:: Individual studies per state that analyze the status of designation of central authorities under the conventions to which the state is a party

• STANDARD FORMSTANDARD FORM:: Presentation and use of the new format of the OAS for the designation of central authorities

• INTERNET SITEINTERNET SITE:: Storage and diffusion, by the Department of International Law, of the relevant information of those designations

Designation TablesESTADOS Adopción Restitución Alimentos Pruebas Trafico Medidas Laudos

ArgentinaPartede la convencion

Partede la convencion Not a Party to the

Convention Not a Party to the

Convention Partede la convencion

Not a Party to the

Convention Not a Party to the

Convention Bolivia X

Not a Party to the

Convention Not a Party to the

Convention Partede la convencion

X Not a Party to Partede la

Not a Party to the

Convention Brasil

Not a Party to the

Convention Partede la convencion Not a Party to the

Convention Partede la convencion

X Not a Party to the

Convention Not a Party to the

Convention Mexico

Not a Party to the

Convention Partede la convencion

X Partede la convencion

Not a Party to

the Convention Not a Party to the

Convention Not a Party to the

Convention Panama

Not a Party to the

Convention Partede la convencion Not a Party to the

Convention Not a Party to the

Convention Not a Party to

the Convention X Not a Party to the

Convention

Venezuela

Not a Party to the

Convention X

Not a Party to the

Convention Not a Party to the

Convention Not a Party to

the Convention Not a Party to the

Convention Not a Party to the

Convention

National StudiesNational StudiesComponents:Components:

• Determines the number of instruments of international cooperation to which the states is a party

• Analyses the conventions under which the states has designated central authorities

• Lists the central authorities whose designation is pending• Provides detailed information to comply with the obligation

of designated such central authorities• Requires submittal of information to the General Secretariat

Standard FormStandard Form

Treaties Page

Cooperation NetworkCooperation Network

Private sitePrivate sitePublic sitePublic site ++

Secure mailSecure mail

ToolsTools++++

Public sitePublic site

[Componente Privado]

Acceso por país

Antigua y BarbudaAntigua y BarbudaArgentinaArgentinaBahamasBahamasBarbadosBarbadosBelize Belize BoliviaBoliviaBrasilBrasilCanadaCanadaChileChileColombiaColombiaCota RicaCota RicaDominicaDominica

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▪ Introducción

La La Red de Cooperación Jurídica Hemisférica en Red de Cooperación Jurídica Hemisférica en Materia de Derecho de Familia y NiñezMateria de Derecho de Familia y Niñez (“la Red”) se (“la Red”) se originó en la “Séptima Reunión de Ministros de Justicia u originó en la “Séptima Reunión de Ministros de Justicia u otros Ministros, Procuradores o Fiscales Generales de las otros Ministros, Procuradores o Fiscales Generales de las Américas” (REMJA VII). En dicha reunión se encomendó a la Américas” (REMJA VII). En dicha reunión se encomendó a la Secretaría General (Secretaría de Asuntos Jurídicos) la Secretaría General (Secretaría de Asuntos Jurídicos) la creación de un proyecto interamericano de cooperación creación de un proyecto interamericano de cooperación jurídica y asistencia mutua en materia de derecho de familia jurídica y asistencia mutua en materia de derecho de familia y niñez. y niñez. Con base en las cuatro convenciones interamericanas sobre Con base en las cuatro convenciones interamericanas sobre derecho internacional de familia acordadas por la OEA derecho internacional de familia acordadas por la OEA (Convención Interamericana sobre Obligaciones (Convención Interamericana sobre Obligaciones Alimentarias, Convención Interamericana sobre Restitución Alimentarias, Convención Interamericana sobre Restitución

Organization of AmericanAmerican States

Private site

Secure Communication

Storage AreaNetwork

Windows 200364 bits

Windows 200364 bits

Windows 200364 bits

Cooperation Network

Expected results:Expected results:• Creation of a uniform/standardized system

• Complete and updated network of authorities

• Improvement in communication and cooperation between states and authorities

• Enhancement of the implementation of Inter-American Conventions

• Improvement in controversy solution

Next steps: ProcessProcess • Participation of 34 member states• Potential Second Technical Meeting• Formalization of the Network• REMJA: Creation of a Working Group• REMJA: Presidency per state

Next steps: RecommendationsRecommendations• Conclusions and Recommendations of the

First Technical Meeting

• Changes to the Preliminary Tools

• Changes to the Questionnaire

• Preliminary recommendations

Next steps: CalendarCalendar