Legal Aid

A/RES/2449(XXIII)View PDF

Who adopted this document and its mandates?

A Resolution of the General Assembly, published in 1969.

What subjects does this mandate have?

3 subjects

Advisory Services Human Rights Legal Aid

What’s in this document?

1 operative paragraph

Recalling that the Universal Declaration of Human Righ~s proclaims that everyone has the right to an effective r~mC?y by the competent national tribunals for acts v1olatmg the fundamental rights granted him by the constitution or by law,

Recalling further that article 14 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights provides in fjrt tha~ everyone charged with a criminal offence shal be ent!tled to de~end himself in person or through legal assistance of his own choosing and to be informed if he does not.have legal_ assistance! of this right and t~ have !egal assista,:ice :1-ss1gned t~ him in any case where the 1f!ter~sts of Justice so re9u1re, and without payment by him m any such case 1f he does not have sufficient means to pay for it,

Believing that there are cases where the individual's recourse to competent tribunals to which he has a right of access is denied or hindered because of the lack of financial resources to bear the expenses involved

Convinced that the provision of legal aid to thos; who need it would strengthen the observance and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms l. Recommends Member States :

(a) To guarantee the progressive development of ~ol!lprehensive systems of legal aid to those who need 1t m order to protect their human rights and fundamental freedoms ;

( b) To devise stan~ards for_ granting, in appropriate cases, legal or professional assistance ;

( d) To consider taking all possible steps to simplify legal procedures so as to reduce the burdens on the financial and other resources of individuals who seek legal redress ;

( ~) To ~ncoura~e co-operation among appropriate bodies makmg available competent legal assistance to those who need it;

Requests the Secretary-General in consultation with the appropriate United Nations o~gans specialized agencie~ and other intergovernmental organ; concerned, to provide the necessary resources, within the limits of the programme of advisory services in the field of huJ?lan rights, to facilitate expert and other technical ass1~taf!~e to Member States seeking to extend the avatlab1hty of competent legal aid.

19 December 1968.

41 Ibid., p. 15.

Who adopted this document and its mandates?

What subjects does this mandate have?

What’s in this document?

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