This order establishes the legal framework for identifying the contracting parties to international conventions concerning child abduction and custody. The document is issued by the government of Great Britain to provide an authoritative list of nations that have ratified or acceded to specific international agreements. It serves as a formal instrument to ensure legal clarity regarding the cross-border enforcement of custody rights and the return of abducted children.

Legal professionals and government officials utilize this order as a primary reference for verifying the international applicability of child custody laws. Experts note that the text is highly technical and intended strictly for administrative and judicial application within the British legal system.