The Hague Conference seeks to unify the rules of private international law by drafting multilateral treaties or conventions in various fields of international law, including

• international cooperation;
• conflict of law in contracts, torts, maintenance obligations, child, relationship, and estates;
• recognition of companies;
• jurisdiction; and
• enforcement of foreign judgements.

The Hague Conference has 64 Member States as of 30 June 2004.

The Hague Conference is a diplomatic conference. Decisions are rendered at Plenary Sessions of the conference.

In practice, decisions are taken by consensus.

The Hague Conference has debated whether it should commence work on a convention dealing specifically with private international law issues pertaining to the Internet and electronic commerce. To date, no action on the matter has been taken.