We make two contributions to the literature. First, our study, to the best of our knowledge, is the first to assess the impact of the ratification of the Protocol on prevention, protection and prosecution policy, respectively, which can lead to different levels of compliance given their different objectives and costs of compliance. Second, we hypothesize ‘efficient compliance’ by connecting the theory of ‘pressure’ and ‘costs’, two important concepts in the compliance literature, and empirically prove the strategic compliance behaviors of countries.