travaux preparatoires

travaux preparatoires

‘preparatory works’. In interpreting treaties it is often permissible to consult preparatory materials, usually in the event of their being an ambiguity. Sometimes a treaty may make specific reference to some foundation report and that maybe resorted to as an aid. The same idea has quite recently been adopted in the UK for the construction of statutes where there is an ambiguity, allowing resort to Law Commission reports recommending the legislation or even debates in Parliament.