Children's Act, 2005 (Act No. 38 of 2005)

Schedules

Schedule 2 : Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction

Chapter I : Scope of the Convention (Articles 1-5)
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Article 1

 

The objects of the present Convention are—

(a)to secure the prompt return of children wrongfully removed to or retained in any Contracting State; and
(b)to ensure that rights of custody and of access under the law of one Contracting State are effectively respected in other Contracting States.

 

Article 2

 

Contracting States shall take all appropriate measures to secure within their territories the implementation of the objects of the Convention. For this purpose they shall use the most expeditious procedures available.

 

Article 3

 

The removal or the retention of a child is to be considered wrongful where—

(a)it is in breach of rights of custody attributed to a person, an institution or any other body, either jointly or alone, under the law of the State in which the child was habitually resident immediately before the removal or retention; and
(b)at the time of removal or retention those rights were actually exercised, either jointly or alone, or would have been so exercised but for the removal or retention. The rights of custody mentioned in sub-paragraph a above, may arise in particular by operation of law or by reason of a judicial or administrative decision, or by reason of an agreement having legal effect under the law of that State.

 

Article 4

 

The Convention shall apply to any child who was habitually resident in a Contracting State immediately before any breach of custody or access rights. The Convention shall cease to apply when the child attains the age of 16 years.

 

Article 5

 

For the purposes of this Convention—

(a)‘rights of custody’ shall include rights relating to the care of the person of the child and, in particular, the right to determine the child’s place of residence;
(b)‘rights of access’ shall include the right to take a child for a limited period of time to a place other than the child’s habitual residence.