State immunity — Jurisdiction — Limitations on immunity — International crimes — Violations of jus cogens — Whether international law confers immunity on State sued before foreign court for international crimes and other serious violations of international human rights law

Sources of international law — Custom — Jus cogens — Hierarchy of norms — Relationship between violations of jus cogens norms and law of State immunity — Dominance of jus cogens — Recognition in State practice

Relationship of international law and municipal law — Judgments of International Court of Justice — Proceedings between Germany and Italy in International Court of Justice — Claim by Germany that Italy had violated Germany’s entitlement to State immunity — Effect of pending proceedings in International Court of Justice on proceedings in Italian courts — The law of Italy