Legal Definitions - travaux préparatoires

Definition: Travaux préparatoires refers to the materials used in preparing the final version of an agreement or statute, particularly in the case of an international treaty. It includes the draft or legislative history of a treaty.

Examples: When countries negotiate a treaty, they often create a draft version of the agreement. This draft is called travaux préparatoires. It includes all the discussions, proposals, and changes made during the negotiation process. For example, the travaux préparatoires of the Paris Agreement on climate change include all the drafts and notes from the negotiations leading up to the final agreement.

The travaux préparatoires are important because they provide insight into the intentions of the parties involved in the treaty. They can help clarify the meaning of certain provisions and resolve disputes that may arise in the future.