the cause of the acquisition of nationality.106 It is for this reason that the model provision requires that an individual acquire nationality as ‘a result of fraud’ before their nationality may be withdrawn by the competent authority. This means that deprivation of nationality is not permissible if the nationality would have been acquired even if the fraud did not occur. State practice in recent years has tended to limit the period following the acquisition of nationality within which it may be revoked.107 The model provision sets this period at five years, as a reflection of State practice in the region, but States may choose longer or shorter periods of time. In relation to services rendered to a foreign government as a ground for deprivation of nationality, a State must serve an individual with notice, rather than merely prohibiting the rendering of such services through law. This helps to guarantee an individual the opportunity to change their behaviour to avoid the loss of nationality, while also ensuring that the State’s behaviour is predictable.108 The kind of conduct that should be considered seriously prejudicial to the vital interests of the State is not general criminal offences, even very serious ones, but rather conduct which threatens the foundation and organisation of the State itself.109 It is likely to include treason and other activities directed against the State, such as work for a foreign secret service.110 Increasingly, terrorism offences have been considered as a basis for deprivation of nationality on the ground that they are seriously prejudicial to vital State interests.111 According to both the ordinary meaning of the words, and also the travaux preparatoires, the term ‘vital interests’ should be considered as a higher threshold than ‘national interests’. In making any decision to deprive someone of their nationality, States must ensure that they are not doing so arbitrarily. The Arab Charter on Human Rights, to which many LAS member States are a party, prohibits the deprivation of nationality without a legally valid reason.112 The prohibition on the arbitrary deprivation of nationality found in article 15(2) of the UDHR has been given form by subsequent human rights treaties such as the CRC, and resolutions of the Human Rights Council and reports of the UN Secretary General. From the 47