THE FIGHT AGAINST THE USE OF NEW TECHNOLOGIES FOR TRAFFICKING OF THE CHILDREN AND THEIR SEXUAL EXPLOITATION

This article studies the international cooperation of national judges to enhance the implementation of the 1980 Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction and the 1996 Convention on Jurisdiction, Applicable Law, Recognition, Enforcement and Cooperation in Respect of Parental Responsibility and Measures for the Protection of Children. The International Hague Network of Judges (IHNJ) began 20 years ago with judges from China (Hong Kong SAR), New Zealand, the United Kingdom (England and Wales), and the USA. For the first time the idea to establish the IHNJ specializing in family disputes was recommended at the 1998 De Ruwenberg Seminar for Judges on the international protection of children. It was proposed that the competent authorities (e.g., court chairmen or any other appropriate officials according to concrete legal system) in different jurisdictions designate one or even more members of the judiciary to work as a channel of communication and connection with their national Central Authorities, with other judges within their domestic jurisdictions and with judges from other Contracting States, in regard to, primary as a minimum, of matters relevant to the 1980 Hague Convention. Today it is admitted that there is a wide variety of international instruments, both universal and regional, with respect to which direct judicial communications may act a part beyond the 1980 Hague Convention.