Inter-American Network of Cooperation in Family and Child Law Objectives, Background and Tools

Structure 1. Objectives 2. Timing Issues 3. Tools 3. Public Component 4. Private Component 5. Secure Communication

Objectives of the Network: Create a comprehensive network of authorities of all OAS Member States and other interested participants Facilitate international cooperation in family law Reduce complexities in cross-border family law transactions Increase communication between authorities Coordinate with other organs, agencies and entities of the Inter-American system & multilateral organizations Protection of rights of women and children in the Americas

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: Informal Phase Pilot Projects Preliminary Tools Transition Phase Designation of Authorities Technical Meetings Formal Phase REMJA Working Group

First Pilot Second Pilot Argentina Colombia El Salvador Spain Dominican Republic Canada Bahamas United States Grenada Brazil Mexico

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 18 Months

Transition Phase: REMJA-VIII Technical Meetings Refine Tools Designate Authorities Deliberate/Formalize 18 Months

Formal Phase: REMJA-IX Creation of a Working Group Formal Chair by States Annual Meetings WG Bi Annual Meetings of REMJA

Network Timeline REMJA IX Working Group 1st Pilot 2nd Pilot Prelim Tools Tech Meeting(s) Conclusions REMJA VIII

Work Methodology Introduction to the system Preliminary network tools Suggestions for changing/improving/replacing Recommendations from meeting Calendar for developing tools

Background: Mandates Charter of the OAS Panama Declaration Summits of the Americas Ministers of Justice General Assembly 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 Authorities Fourteen Conventions of Legal Cooperation that require designation of central authorities Private law Rogatory letters Preventive measures Evidence Family law Public Law Extradition Mutual assistance Corruption Armaments / Traffic Judicial decisions 46% 41%

Importance 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 project DESIGNATE: Designate central authorities for those states and instruments that are not part of the system UPDATE: Require those states that have designated their central authorities to update them to verify the information . STANDARDIZE: 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 NETWORK: Create a network of central authorities under the Inter-American conventions

Components: ANALYSIS: Tables analyzing the Inter-American conventions on judicial cooperation NATIONAL 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 FORM: Presentation and use of the new format of the OAS for the designation of central authorities INTERNET SITE: Storage and diffusion, by the Department of International Law, of the relevant information of those designations

Designation Tables ESTADOS Adopción Restitución Alimentos Pruebas Trafico Medidas Laudos Argentina Partede la convencion Not a Party to the Convention Bolivia X Not a Party to Partede la Brasil Mexico Panama Venezuela

National Studies 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 Form

Treaties Page

Cooperation Network Public site + Tools Private site + Secure mail +

*** Página en construcción *** Public site [Componente Privado] Acceso por país *** Página en construcción *** ▪ Introducción La Red de Cooperación Jurídica Hemisférica en Materia de Derecho de Familia y Niñez (“la Red”) se originó en la “Séptima Reunión de Ministros de Justicia u otros Ministros, Procuradores o Fiscales Generales de las Américas” (REMJA VII). En dicha reunión se encomendó a la Secretaría General (Secretaría de Asuntos Jurídicos) la creación de un proyecto interamericano de cooperación jurídica y asistencia mutua en materia de derecho de familia y niñez. Con base en las cuatro convenciones interamericanas sobre derecho internacional de familia acordadas por la OEA (Convención Interamericana sobre Obligaciones Alimentarias, Convención Interamericana sobre Restitución Antigua y Barbuda Argentina Bahamas Barbados Belize Bolivia Brasil Canada Chile Colombia Cota Rica Dominica Organization of American States

Private site

Secure Communication Storage Area Network Windows 2003 64 bits

Cooperation Network

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: Process 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: Recommendations Conclusions and Recommendations of the First Technical Meeting Changes to the Preliminary Tools Changes to the Questionnaire Preliminary recommendations

Next steps: Calendar