United Nations Principles and Guidelines on Access to Legal Aid in Criminal Justice Systems A/RES/67/187 Guideline 7 Legal aid for victims 48. Without prejudice to or inconsistency with the rights of the accused and consistent with the relevant national legislation, States should take adequate measures, where appropriate, to ensure that: (a) Appropriate advice, assistance, care, facilities and support are provided to victims of crime, throughout the criminal justice process, in a manner that prevents repeat victimization and secondary victimization; 16 (b) Child victims receive legal assistance as required, in line with the Guidelines on Justice in Matters involving Child Victims and Witnesses of Crime; 17 (c) Victims receive legal advice on any aspect of their involvement in the criminal justice process, including the possibility of taking civil action or making a claim for compensation in separate legal proceedings, whichever is consistent with the relevant national legislation; (d) Victims are promptly informed by the police and other front-line responders (i.e., health, social and child welfare providers) of their right to information and their entitlement to legal aid, assistance and protection and of how to access such rights; (e) The views and concerns of victims are presented and considered at appropriate stages of the criminal justice process where their personal interests are affected or where the interests of justice so require; (f) Victim services agencies and non-governmental organizations can provide legal aid to victims; (g) Mechanisms and procedures are established to ensure close cooperation and appropriate referral systems between legal aid providers and other professionals (i.e., health, social and child welfare providers) to obtain a comprehensive understanding of the victim, as well as an assessment of his or her legal, psychological, social, emotional, physical and cognitive situation and needs. Guideline 8 Legal aid for witnesses 49. States should take adequate measures, where appropriate, to ensure that: (a) Witnesses are promptly informed by the relevant authority of their right to information, their entitlement to assistance and protection and how to access such rights; (b) Appropriate advice, assistance, care facilities and support are provided to witnesses of crime throughout the criminal justice process; (c) Child witnesses receive legal assistance as required, in line with the Guidelines on Justice in Matters involving Child Victims and Witnesses of Crime; (d) All statements or testimony given by the witness at all stages of the criminal justice process are accurately interpreted and translated. _______________ 16 “Repeat victimization” and “secondary victimization” are understood as defined in paragraphs 1.2 and 1.3 of the appendix to Recommendation Rec(2006)8 of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe to member States on assistance to crime victims. 17 Economic and Social Council resolution 2005/20, annex. 13/20