United Nations Principles and Guidelines on Access to Legal Aid in Criminal Justice Systems A/RES/67/187 Principle 6 Non-discrimination 26. States should ensure the provision of legal aid to all persons regardless of age, race, colour, gender, language, religion or belief, political or other opinion, national or social origin or property, citizenship or domicile, birth, education or social status or other status. Principle 7 Prompt and effective provision of legal aid 27. States should ensure that effective legal aid is provided promptly at all stages of the criminal justice process. 28. Effective legal aid includes, but is not limited to, unhindered access to legal aid providers for detained persons, confidentiality of communications, access to case files and adequate time and facilities to prepare their defence. Principle 8 Right to be informed 29. States should ensure that, prior to any questioning and at the time of deprivation of liberty, persons are informed of their right to legal aid and other procedural safeguards as well as of the potential consequences of voluntarily waiving those rights. 30. States should ensure that information on rights during the criminal justice process and on legal aid services is made freely available and is accessible to the public. Principle 9 Remedies and safeguards 31. States should establish effective remedies and safeguards that apply if access to legal aid is undermined, delayed or denied or if persons have not been adequately informed of their right to legal aid. Principle 10 Equity in access to legal aid 32. Special measures should be taken to ensure meaningful access to legal aid for women, children and groups with special needs, including, but not limited to, the elderly, minorities, persons with disabilities, persons with mental illnesses, persons living with HIV and other serious contagious diseases, drug users, indigenous and aboriginal people, stateless persons, asylum seekers, foreign citizens, migrants and migrant workers, refugees and internally displaced persons. Such measures should address the special needs of those groups, including gender-sensitive and ageappropriate measures. 33. States should also ensure that legal aid is provided to persons living in rural, remote and economically and socially disadvantaged areas and to persons who are members of economically and socially disadvantaged groups. 7/20