It is the opinion of IWMC that there are serious threats to this integrity – and consequently to the Sovereign Rights of Independent Members of CITES – which are either ignored, forgotten or brushed aside. IWMC has provided the Members of the Standing Committee with information and examples of three types of threats against which the CITES Standing Committee should remain ever vigilant:

1 – The On-Going Threat

IWMC made direct reference to the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) and the rumors about illegal trade in ivory denounced by the Secretariat in Notification to the Parties No. 2000/060 of 3 November 2000. At the time that HSUS launched its unfounded accusations against several governments of Parties to CITES, the press exploded with the exposure of such a scandal that could lead to the disappearance of the African elephant. When the CITES Secretariat presented its report, clearly demonstrating HSUS total lack of credibility and respectability, not a single reporter corrected the situation.

Such threats should not be forgotten, they have happened in the past, are happening now and will continue to happen: they represent HSUS and the likes’ main weapon in achieving their "no-use" agenda. It is the role of the CITES Standing Committee to expose such behavior and avert the damaging consequences to CITES.

2 – The Hidden Threat

IWMC also referred to what may appear as a new attempt to create an Enforcement Committee or Working Group in spite of repeated opposition by the Conference of the Parties. On two occasions, during COP9 and COP10, the Conference of the Parties overwhelmingly rejected a recommendation to create an Enforcement Committee or Working Group. Under pressure from NGOs, certain Parties are once again attempting to circumvent decisions of the Conference of the Parties through the adoption of Resolutions and/or decisions that would have the effect of creating an Enforcement Committee or Working Group.

IWMC believes it is the responsibility of the Standing Committee to expose those attempts as they entail yet another hidden threat to the integrity of the Convention.

3 – The Obvious Threat: the "Listocrats"

It is well known that components of CITES have, as primary objective, the listing of as many species as possible, no matter what science calls for. For those extreme NGOs and protectionist governments, putting a species on the list is a great victory and the end of all problems for that particular species. In relation to this specific threat, IWMC has raised issues concerning the introduction of populations of species and their treatment by CITES, and has commented on suggested sanctions upon sturgeon range States and their potential dangers.

IWMC believes that spurious attempts by "Listocrats" should be countered by the CITES Standing Committee to avoid the continuing dangers associated with inconsiderate listing of species.

IWMC also raised concerns related to the anticipation of decisions by the Conference of the Parties and/or the Standing Committee by the CITES Secretariat. As an example, during the Standing Committee meeting, a communiqué from the Agence France Presse was discussed, which appeared be the result of a press conference given by the CITES Secretariat following its meeting with Caspian States at UNEP in Geneva. The communiqué appeared to indicate that the CITES Secretariat had pre-empted the results of the Standing Committee discussions.

Such anticipation should not be tolerated by the CITES Standing Committee, in the fulfillment of its role of "protector" of the integrity of the Convention.