Mr. Jean Ayoub:

Our consultation process lasted for five years and we tried to involve every single expert from all walks of life and most cultures because we believed that their input would be important for the development of the principles. Every time we have heard someone insulting or cursing us, we have invited him or her to the table at The Hague, in Zurich, in Geneva and elsewhere so as to take into consideration everything that could be injected into these principles.

That is why, on the one hand they are good and they are aspirational. On the other hand, we took the opinion of more than 100 experts during these five years. Our hope, in very simple and practical terms, is that there would be a reference document for legislators to take on board, adapt and adopt to national legislation, culture, practices and best practice and that we remain as the custodians or guardians of the principles to be able to provide any insights, which is what we are doing today, in terms of what we believe. We cannot pretend that we have knowledge of all of the differences and arguments in each country. We are not experts in that but we can provide a reference from our experience of how these principles work and why we believe that every single country should take them on board, adapt and adopt them in national legislation.