Explanation:

• The purposes of the Convention are to protect children from the harmful effects of international abduction by a parent by encouraging the prompt return of abducted children to their country of habitual residence, and to organize or secure the effective rights of access to a child.
• The Convention entered into force between the signatories on 1 December 1983.
• The primary intention of the Convention is to preserve whatever status quo child custody arrangement existed immediately before an alleged wrongful removal or retention thereby deterring a parent from crossing international boundaries in search of a more sympathetic court.
• The Convention applies only to children under the age of 16.
• 94 states are party to the convention. Philippines is the latest country to accede to the convention.
• Whether a child should be returned to his/her habitual residence, or whether access/visitation rights exist, does not depend on the immigration status/or nationality of a child or his or her parents.
• Each country that has ratified the Convention is required to have a Central Authority. The Central Authority is the main point of contact for parents and other governments involved in abduction cases.
• The Central Authority is supposed to help locate abducted children, help encourage amicable solutions to parental abduction cases, and help process requests for return of children.