Yes, the Convention and its additional Protocol provide for a binding mechanism. The authorities of the requested state are therefore obliged to respond if the Convention or the relevant chapter of the additional Protocol is applicable between the states concerned and that the request comes within their field of application.

There are, however, exceptions to this principle. This is the case, for instance, when the interests of the requested state are affected by the dispute regarding which the request was made or when the requested state considers that the reply would be likely to have an adverse impact on its sovereignty or security.