Calls for Written Evidence for the Hague Convention on the Jurisdiction, Applicable Law, Recognition, Enforcement and Co-operation in Respect of Parental Responsibility and Measures for the Protection of Children (1996 Convention).
The Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and Defence has been tasked by the Fiji Parliament to consider the above-mentioned Convention.
Background
The 1996 Convention deals with civil measures aimed at protecting children in the international context. It regulates a broad range of matters including parental responsibility, parental access and contact, public care, protection of children and their property.
Call for Evidence
The Committee is calling for written submissions from interested stakeholders who have views that they wish to share, in particular, it would welcome the views of religious organisations and community groups. In view of the timeline given, the Committee would be grateful if submissions could be based on the following questions:
1) Whether the 1996 Convention should be acceded to or not?
2) What would be the impact of Fiji’s accession to the 1996 Convention?
3) Any other issues specific to the contents of the 1996 Convention and implications for accession.
Copies of the Convention can be obtained from this link
How to submit written evidence
Interested parties are invited to keep to a word limit of 1,000 words and to focus their submission on the key issues.
Deadline for submissions is Thursday 23rd June 2016. It would be helpful to submit written evidence before the above date if possible so that it can be considered by the Committee. Please send your written submissions by email to ktakape@parliament.gov.fj or by post to PO Box 2352, Government buildings, Suva.
Parties interested in giving Oral submission can contact the Committee Secretary (Kalo) through the email above or call on 679 3225609 or 679 9908181.
Written Submission Guidance
It will assist the committee if those submitting evidence adhere to the following guidelines. Each submission should:
- State clearly who the submission is from, i.e. whether from yourself in a personal capacity or sent on behalf of an organization, for example the submission could be headed ‘Written evidence submitted by …..’
- Be concise – we recommend no more than 1,000 words in length.
- Begin with an executive summary in bullet point form of the main points made in the submission. Please use Calibri font 12pt if possible.
- Include a brief introduction about yourself/your organization and your reason for submitting evidence.
- Have numbered paragraphs.
- Include any factual information you have to offer from which the committee might be able to draw conclusions, or which could be put to other witnesses for their reactions.
