Treaties — Interpretation — UNESCO Convention concerning the Protection of the World’s Cultural and Natural Heritage, 1972 — Cultural and natural heritage — Obligations with regard to World Heritage Sites on the territory of a State party — Protection of the Semmering Railway World Heritage Site in environmental impact assessment proceedings — The law of Austria

Human rights — Right to property — Social security system — Pension system — Retirement — Obligations of State — Different treatment — Whether objective and reasonable grounds for different treatment — European Court of Human Rights — European Convention on Human Rights, 1950

Nationality — Citizens of Latvia — Non-citizens of Latvia — Ex-USSR citizens — Aliens — Stateless persons — Obligations of State — Freedom of action — USSR immigration policy

Relationship of international law and municipal law — European Court of Human Rights — Jurisprudence of Grand Chamber — Andrejeva v. Latvia finding violation of European Convention on Human Rights, 1950 — Whether distinguishable on facts — Obligations of Latvia under Convention

State succession — State continuity — Statehood — Unlawful occupation — Illegal annexation — Rights and obligations of illegally annexed State — Restoration of independence of Latvia — USSR — Bilateral agreements — The law of Latvia

Treaties — Withdrawal — Parliamentary control — Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, 1998 — Notice of withdrawal in terms of Article 127(1) — Section 231 of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa — Whether power of national executive to negotiate and sign international treaty including power to withdraw from such treaty without prior parliamentary approval — Whether parliamentary approval to be sought after notice of withdrawal delivered to the United Nations — The law of South Africa

War and armed conflict — Geneva Conventions of 1949 — Common Article 3 and Article 17 of Geneva Convention III — Prisoners of war — Interrogation techniques — Judicial review of Secretary of State’s policy authorizing questioning of captured persons — Whether policy giving rise to unacceptable risk of inhumane treatment, threats, insults, or unpleasant or disadvantageous treatment — Whether policy compatible with the United Kingdom’s obligations under international law — The law of England

State immunity — State Immunity Act 1978 — Award — Enforcement — Venezuela seeking to set aside order granting Canadian claimant company leave to enforce arbitration award — Whether Venezuela entitled to State immunity under Section 1 of Act — Venezuela party to 1998 Bilateral Investment Treaty with Canada — Whether Venezuela losing right to rely on State immunity — Whether serving of arbitration claim form required under Section 12 of Act

Arbitration — Award — Enforcement — Canadian claimant company seeking to enforce arbitration award against Venezuela — Venezuela party to 1998 Bilateral Investment Treaty with Canada — Whether Venezuela entitled to State immunity under Section 1 of State Immunity Act 1978 — Whether Venezuela losing right to rely on State immunity

Treaties — Interpretation — Canada–Venezuela Bilateral Investment Treaty, 1998 — Meaning of “investor” — Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties, 1969, Articles 31 and 32 — Ordinary meaning of “investor” in context and in light of object and purpose of Treaty — Whether Canadian claimant company “investor” within meaning of Treaty — Whether party to agreement to arbitrate — Whether Venezuela losing right to rely on State immunity — The law of England

Human rights — Rights of women in Northern Ireland — Right to personal autonomy — Rights of unborn child — Right to life — Prohibition of inhuman or degrading treatment — Right to respect for private and family life — European Convention on Human Rights, 1950 — Northern Ireland abortion laws — Prohibition of abortion except where woman’s life threatened or where permanent serious risk to her well-being — Failure to provide exceptions to prohibition in cases of serious malformation of foetus, fatal foetal abnormality and pregnancies due to rape and incest — Whether any ill-treatment under Article 3 of Convention reaching minimum level of severity — Scope of Article 8 of Convention — Whether interference with rights of women — Whether in accordance with law — Whether legitimate aim — Whether necessary in democratic society — Whether means employed proportionate to legitimate aim — Whether law on abortion in Northern Ireland compatible with Articles 3 and 8 of Convention — Section 4(2) of Human Rights Act 1998 — Whether declaration of incompatibility necessary

Relationship of international law and municipal law — Treaties — Interpretation — Application — Effect — European Convention on Human Rights, 1950 — Unincorporated treaties — Effect in Northern Ireland law — Good Friday Agreement — Northern Ireland Act 1998 — Incorporation of European Convention into Northern Ireland law — Northern Ireland abortion laws — Prohibition of abortion — Northern Ireland abortion laws failing to provide exceptions to prohibition of abortion in cases of serious malformation of foetus, fatal foetal abnormality and pregnancies due to rape and incest — State having wide margin of appreciation — Moral views of Northern Irish people — Role of courts and legislature — Whether law on abortion in Northern Ireland compatible with Articles 3 and 8 of Convention — Section 4(2) of Human Rights Act 1998 — Whether declaration of incompatibility necessary

Treaties — Interpretation — Application — Effect in domestic law — European Convention on Human Rights, 1950, Articles 3 and 8 — Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties, 1969, Article 31(1) — Object and purpose of treaty — Protection of individual human rights — Maintenance and promotion of ideals and values of democratic society — Democracy presupposing pluralism, tolerance and broadmindedness — Margin of appreciation — Moral views of Northern Irish people — Role of courts and legislature — Effect of unincorporated treaties in domestic law — Whether law on abortion in Northern Ireland compatible with Articles 3 and 8 of European Convention — Section 4(2) of Human Rights Act 1998 — Whether declaration of incompatibility necessary — The law of Northern Ireland