1.1.4. Certain Principles are relevant to other practices, including measures to revoke passports, expel or prohibit entry of nationals as a national security measure. 1.2. Sources of law The Principles restate or reflect international law and legal standards under the UN Charter, treaty law, customary international law, general principles of law, judicial decisions and legal scholarship, regional and national law and practice. 1.3. Interpretation 1.3.1. In all circumstances, the Principles should be interpreted in accordance with international human rights law and standards, applying the most favourable provision of protection. 1.3.2. The Principles set out minimum standards. Nothing in these Principles shall be invoked as a reason to apply a lower level of protection against deprivation of nationality than that currently provided in national laws. 1.3.3. Where permitted, any exceptions stated in the Principles should be interpreted in the narrowest possible manner. 2. Definitions For the purpose of the Principles, the following definitions are applied: 2.1. Nationality 2.1.1. Nationality refers to a legal status of an individual in relation to a State and embodies the legal bond between the individual and State for the purposes of international law. 2.1.2. It is for each State to determine who is considered a national according to its law, in compliance with international law standards. 2.1.3. For the scope of application and interpretation of the Principles, the terms “nationality and “citizenship are synonymous. 2.2. Deprivation of nationality 2.2.1. Deprivation of nationality refers to any loss, withdrawal or denial of nationality that was not voluntarily requested by the individual. This includes where a State precludes a person or group from obtaining or retaining a nationality, where nationality is automatically lost by operation of the law, and where acts taken by administrative authorities result in a person being deprived of a nationality. 2.2.2. Deprivation of nationality also covers situations where there is no formal act by a State but where the practice of its competent authorities clearly shows that they have ceased to 11