The Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction is an international treaty designed to protect children from wrongful removal or retention across international borders. It aims to ensure that children who are abducted by a parent or guardian are promptly returned to their country of habitual residence, where custody decisions can be made. The convention establishes a legal framework for cooperation between countries, facilitating the return of abducted children. It applies to children under the age of 16 and is intended to safeguard their best interests by promoting the prompt resolution of international abduction cases.