General Secretariat

Held every five years since the inception of the 1993 Hague Convention, sixty-six States parties were in attendance, as well as seven International Organizations, thirty-three NGOs and twenty observers. A unique opportunity for adoption experts in countries of origin and receiving countries, to discuss better co-operation, persisting challenges such as costs and illicit practices, as well as an improved protection of the child.

ISS was represented by a Delegation from its General Secretariat, displaying its expertise through various documents published on the Permanent Bureau website. ISS intervened on children with special needs, the use of new technologies in search of origins. Moreover, ISS had the opportunity to chair a session on openness in adoption.
Most of the ISS interventions were based on the Manifesto on Ethical Intercountry Adoption, formally launched during this meeting.

ISS' expertise was greatly appreciated by various participants, including Permanent Bureau. During the last session on illicit practices, the Hague Conference Secretary General went on to announce the October 2015 THC 96 International Conference jointly organised by ISS and the Permanent Bureau in Geneva and publically thanked ISS for spearheading the initiative.

This commission strongly reinforced ties with central authorities and other professionals where numerous project opportunities are under discussion with both receiving States and countries of origin. Evidently, additional visibility and recognition for ISS role and expertise in child protection was achieved and whether it was Hague Professionals, international organisations or Central Authorities attending, all looked forward to continuing cooperation with ISS.