On October 22, the U.S. Ambassador to The Hague signed the 1996 Hague Convention on Jurisdiction, Applicable Law, Recognition, Enforcement and Cooperation in Respect of Parental Responsibility and Measures for the Protection of Children.  Here’s an announcement of the signing from the U.S. Embassy in The Hague, and here’s a link to the text of the Convention on the web site of the Hague Conference.  The Convention will facilitate the recognition and enforcement of U.S. court orders concerning child custody and related matters in a wide range of foreign countries, including Australia and many European nations.  The path toward ratification and implementation will include amendments to the Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act (UCCJEA); the drafting committee appointed by the Uniform Laws Commission to prepare those amendments will be chaired by the Hon. Battle Robinson of Delaware with Professor Robert Spector of the University of Oklahoma serving as Reporter.