On 1 and 2 July 2025, the International Union of Judicial Officers (UIHJ), represented by its Secretary General, Patrick Gielen, and the European Union of Judicial Officers (UEHJ), represented by Duarte Pinto, a member of the Executive Committee, took part in a high-level conference held in Warsaw on the theme of Cross-Border Child Abduction.
Organized under the EU-funded e-Filit project, the conference brought together leading legal experts, judges, lawyers, and enforcement professionals to explore the challenges and innovations in the implementation of the Brussels II-ter Regulation (Regulation 2019/1111) and its interplay with the 1980 Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction.
Held at the Novotel Centrum in the Polish capital and streamed online, the event addressed crucial issues such as:
- the return procedure and central authorities’ role,
- the interpretation of Article 13(1)(b) of the Hague Convention,
- the impact of the European Convention on Human Rights,
- the rise of asylum proceedings in abduction cases, and
- the promotion of alternative dispute resolution (ADR) mechanisms.
On the second day, Duarte Pinto took part in a key round-table discussion dedicated to the practical challenges in cross-border child abduction cases. Alongside a panel of experienced practitioners, including judges and mediators, he shared the perspective of enforcement agents and reflected on procedural bottlenecks, enforcement hurdles, and the need for stronger coordination between authorities across jurisdictions.
The presence of the UIHJ and UEHJ at this event reaffirmed the commitment of judicial officers to upholding the rights and best interests of children in cross-border disputes, and their vital role in the practical application of European and international legal instruments.
This conference marks another step forward in enhancing professional cooperation and training across Europe, while promoting a child-sensitive justice system.
