International Organizations in the Hague

The Hague is known to be the international city of peace and justice. I had no idea about how fascinating the city was and what an important role it plays in diplomacy and international law! Today, the city shelters more than 200 organizations, including the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), the International Criminal Court (ICC), the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA), the International Court of Justice (ICJ), the Hague Conference on Private International Law (HCCH) and the Common Fund for Commodities (CFC).

In the International Criminal Court (ICC), Costa Rica has played a leadership role as a State Party defending the international criminal justice system and the fight against impunity. Regarding disarmament, the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) is a space that allows our country to reiterate to the international community the condemnation of the use of chemical weapons, and at the same time promote cooperation and the use pacific of chemistry, capacity building, and the preparation of national authorities in aspects of assistance and protection. Currently, progress is being made in the construction of a new Laboratory (ChemTech) that will allow the OPCW to revitalize its ability to adapt to developments in science and technology, which will be beneficial to all Member States. In the International Court of Justice, since 2013, Costa Rica presented six cases related to its national sovereignty. The last case was settled favorably on February 2018.  

The HCCH is where the International conventions are negotiated, Currently Costa Rica is a part of the following conventions:

Statute of the Hague Conference on Private International Law

Convention of 5 October 1961 Abolishing the Requirement of Legalization for Foreign Public Documents

Convention of 15 November 1965 on the Service Abroad of Judicial and Extrajudicial Documents in Civil or Commercial Matters

Convention of 18 March 1970 on the Taking of Evidence Abroad in Civil or Commercial Matters

Convention of 25 October 1980 on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction

Convention of 25 October 1980 on International Access to Justice

Convention of 29 May 1993 on Protection of Children and Co-operation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption

Convention of 19 October 1996 on Jurisdiction, Applicable Law, Recognition, Enforcement and Co-operation in Respect of Parental Responsibility and Measures for the Protection of Children

This is a brief publication about a visit we made to the Common Fund for Commodities Headquarters: 

https://www.common-fund.org/news/delegation-from-the-embassy-of-costa-rica/