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Responses
The mandate established within the programme of work for Article 8(j) and related provisions (decision V/16, annex) is to develop guidelines and principles and to that extent it is common practice that such guidelines remain voluntary. However, although voluntary, such guidelines are adopted by the consensus of the Parties to the Convention and carry an ethical and moral weight and can over time become established standards in customary international law. Parties to the Convention provide regular reports to the Secretariat, which include actions taken regarding the implementation of Conference of the Parties decisions including voluntary standards and guidelines.
