BasicPrinciplesontheRoleofLawyers

AdoptedbytheEighthUnitedNationsCongressonthePreventionofCrimeandthe
TreatmentofOffenders,Havana,Cuba,27Augustto7September1990

WhereasintheCharteroftheUnitedNationsthepeoplesoftheworldaffirm,interalia,
theirdeterminationtoestablishconditionsunderwhichjusticecanbemaintained,and
proclaimasoneoftheirpurposestheachievementofinternationalcooperationin
promotingandencouragingrespectforhumanrightsandfundamentalfreedomswithout
distinctionastorace,sex,languageorreligion,

WhereastheUniversalDeclarationofHumanRightsenshrinestheprinciplesofequality
beforethelaw,thepresumptionofinnocence,therighttoafairandpublichearingbyan
independentandimpartialtribunal,andalltheguaranteesnecessaryforthedefenceof
everyonechargedwithapenaloffence,

WhereastheInternationalCovenantonCivilandPoliticalRightsproclaims,inaddition,the
righttobetriedwithoutunduedelayandtherighttoafairandpublichearingbya
competent,independentandimpartialtribunalestablishedbylaw,

WhereastheInternationalCovenantonEconomic,SocialandCulturalRightsrecallsthe
obligationofStatesundertheChartertopromoteuniversalrespectfor,andobservanceof,
humanrightsandfreedoms,

WhereastheBodyofPrinciplesfortheProtectionofAllPersonsunderAnyFormof
DetentionorImprisonmentprovidesthatadetainedpersonshallbeentitledtohavethe
assistanceof,andtocommunicateandconsultwith,legalcounsel,

WhereastheStandardMinimumRulesfortheTreatmentofPrisonersrecommend,in
particular,thatlegalassistanceandconfidentialcommunicationwithcounselshouldbe
ensuredtountriedprisoners,

WhereastheSafeguardsguaranteeingprotectionofthosefacingthedeathpenaltyreaffirm
therightofeveryonesuspectedorchargedwithacrimeforwhichcapitalpunishmentmay
beimposedtoadequatelegalassistanceatallstagesoftheproceedings,inaccordancewith
article14oftheInternationalCovenantonCivilandPoliticalRights,

WhereastheDeclarationofBasicPrinciplesofJusticeforVictimsofCrimeandAbuseof
Powerrecommendsmeasurestobetakenattheinternationalandnationallevelsto
improveaccesstojusticeandfairtreatment,restitution,compensationandassistancefor
victimsofcrime,

Whereasadequateprotectionofthehumanrightsandfundamentalfreedomstowhichall
personsareentitled,betheyeconomic,socialandcultural,orcivilandpolitical,requires
thatallpersonshaveeffectiveaccesstolegalservicesprovidedbyanindependentlegal
profession,

Whereasprofessionalassociationsoflawyershaveavitalroletoplayinupholding
professionalstandardsandethics,protectingtheirmembersfrompersecutionandimproper

restrictionsandinfringements,providinglegalservicestoallinneedofthem,and
cooperatingwithgovernmentalandotherinstitutionsinfurtheringtheendsofjusticeand
publicinterest,TheBasicPrinciplesontheRoleofLawyers,setforthbelow,whichhave
beenformulatedtoassistMemberStatesintheirtaskofpromotingandensuringtheproper
roleoflawyers,shouldberespectedandtakenintoaccountbyGovernmentswithinthe
frameworkoftheirnationallegislationandpracticeandshouldbebroughttotheattention
oflawyersaswellasotherpersons,suchasjudges,prosecutors,membersoftheexecutive
andthelegislature,andthepublicingeneral.Theseprinciplesshallalsoapply,as
appropriate,topersonswhoexercisethefunctionsoflawyerswithouthavingtheformal
statusoflawyers.

Accesstolawyersandlegalservices

1.Allpersonsareentitledtocallupontheassistanceofalawyeroftheirchoicetoprotect
andestablishtheirrightsandtodefendtheminallstagesofcriminalproceedings.

2.Governmentsshallensurethatefficientproceduresandresponsivemechanismsfor
effectiveandequalaccesstolawyersareprovidedforallpersonswithintheirterritoryand
subjecttotheirjurisdiction,withoutdistinctionofanykind,suchasdiscriminationbasedon
race,colour,ethnicorigin,sex,language,religion,politicalorotheropinion,nationalor
socialorigin,property,birth,economicorotherstatus.

3.Governmentsshallensuretheprovisionofsufficientfundingandotherresourcesforlegal
servicestothepoorand,asnecessary,tootherdisadvantagedpersons.Professional
associationsoflawyersshallcooperateintheorganizationandprovisionofservices,facilities
andotherresources.

4.Governmentsandprofessionalassociationsoflawyersshallpromoteprogrammesto
informthepublicabouttheirrightsanddutiesunderthelawandtheimportantroleof
lawyersinprotectingtheirfundamentalfreedoms.Specialattentionshouldbegivento
assistingthepoorandotherdisadvantagedpersonssoastoenablethemtoasserttheir
rightsandwherenecessarycallupontheassistanceoflawyers.

Specialsafeguardsincriminaljusticematters

5.Governmentsshallensurethatallpersonsareimmediatelyinformedbythecompetent
authorityoftheirrighttobeassistedbyalawyeroftheirownchoiceuponarrestor
detentionorwhenchargedwithacriminaloffence.

6.Anysuchpersonswhodonothavealawyershall,inallcasesinwhichtheinterestsof
justicesorequire,beentitledtohavealawyerofexperienceandcompetence
commensuratewiththenatureoftheoffenceassignedtotheminordertoprovideeffective
legalassistance,withoutpaymentbythemiftheylacksufficientmeanstopayforsuch
services.

7.Governmentsshallfurtherensurethatallpersonsarrestedordetained,withorwithout
criminalcharge,shallhavepromptaccesstoalawyer,andinanycasenotlaterthanforty
eighthoursfromthetimeofarrestordetention.

8.Allarrested,detainedorimprisonedpersonsshallbeprovidedwithadequate
opportunities,timeandfacilitiestobevisitedbyandtocommunicateandconsultwitha

lawyer,withoutdelay,interceptionorcensorshipandinfullconfidentiality.Such
consultationsmaybewithinsight,butnotwithinthehearing,oflawenforcementofficials.

Qualificationsandtraining

9.Governments,professionalassociationsoflawyersandeducationalinstitutionsshall
ensurethatlawyershaveappropriateeducationandtrainingandbemadeawareofthe
idealsandethicaldutiesofthelawyerandofhumanrightsandfundamentalfreedoms
recognizedbynationalandinternationallaw.

10.Governments,professionalassociationsoflawyersandeducationalinstitutionsshall
ensurethatthereisnodiscriminationagainstapersonwithrespecttoentryintoor
continuedpracticewithinthelegalprofessiononthegroundsofrace,colour,sex,ethnic
origin,religion,politicalorotheropinion,nationalorsocialorigin,property,birth,economic
orotherstatus,exceptthatarequirement,thatalawyermustbeanationalofthecountry
concerned,shallnotbeconsidereddiscriminatory.

11.Incountrieswherethereexistgroups,communitiesorregionswhoseneedsforlegal
servicesarenotmet,particularlywheresuchgroupshavedistinctcultures,traditionsor
languagesorhavebeenthevictimsofpastdiscrimination,Governments,professional
associationsoflawyersandeducationalinstitutionsshouldtakespecialmeasurestoprovide
opportunitiesforcandidatesfromthesegroupstoenterthelegalprofessionandshould
ensurethattheyreceivetrainingappropriatetotheneedsoftheirgroups.

Dutiesandresponsibilities

12.Lawyersshallatalltimesmaintainthehonouranddignityoftheirprofessionasessential
agentsoftheadministrationofjustice.

13.Thedutiesoflawyerstowardstheirclientsshallinclude:

(a)Advisingclientsastotheirlegalrightsandobligations,andastotheworkingofthelegal
systeminsofarasitisrelevanttothelegalrightsandobligationsoftheclients;

(b)Assistingclientsineveryappropriateway,andtakinglegalactiontoprotecttheir
interests;

(c)Assistingclientsbeforecourts,tribunalsoradministrativeauthorities,whereappropriate.

14.Lawyers,inprotectingtherightsoftheirclientsandinpromotingthecauseofjustice,
shallseektoupholdhumanrightsandfundamentalfreedomsrecognizedbynationaland
internationallawandshallatalltimesactfreelyanddiligentlyinaccordancewiththelaw
andrecognizedstandardsandethicsofthelegalprofession.

15.Lawyersshallalwaysloyallyrespecttheinterestsoftheirclients.

Guaranteesforthefunctioningoflawyers

16.Governmentsshallensurethatlawyers(a)areabletoperformalloftheirprofessional
functionswithoutintimidation,hindrance,harassmentorimproperinterference;(b)areable
totravelandtoconsultwiththeirclientsfreelybothwithintheirowncountryandabroad;

and(c)shallnotsuffer,orbethreatenedwith,prosecutionoradministrative,economicor
othersanctionsforanyactiontakeninaccordancewithrecognizedprofessionalduties,
standardsandethics.

17.Wherethesecurityoflawyersisthreatenedasaresultofdischargingtheirfunctions,
theyshallbeadequatelysafeguardedbytheauthorities.

18.Lawyersshallnotbeidentifiedwiththeirclientsortheirclients'causesasaresultof
dischargingtheirfunctions.

19.Nocourtoradministrativeauthoritybeforewhomtherighttocounselisrecognizedshall
refusetorecognizetherightofalawyertoappearbeforeitforhisorherclientunlessthat
lawyerhasbeendisqualifiedinaccordancewithnationallawandpracticeandinconformity
withtheseprinciples.

20.Lawyersshallenjoycivilandpenalimmunityforrelevantstatementsmadeingoodfaith
inwrittenororalpleadingsorintheirprofessionalappearancesbeforeacourt,tribunalor
otherlegaloradministrativeauthority.

21.Itisthedutyofthecompetentauthoritiestoensurelawyersaccesstoappropriate
information,filesanddocumentsintheirpossessionorcontrolinsufficienttimetoenable
lawyerstoprovideeffectivelegalassistancetotheirclients.Suchaccessshouldbeprovided
attheearliestappropriatetime.

22.Governmentsshallrecognizeandrespectthatallcommunicationsandconsultations
betweenlawyersandtheirclientswithintheirprofessionalrelationshipareconfidential.

Freedomofexpressionandassociation

23.Lawyerslikeothercitizensareentitledtofreedomofexpression,belief,associationand
assembly.Inparticular,theyshallhavetherighttotakepartinpublicdiscussionofmatters
concerningthelaw,theadministrationofjusticeandthepromotionandprotectionof
humanrightsandtojoinorformlocal,nationalorinternationalorganizationsandattend
theirmeetings,withoutsufferingprofessionalrestrictionsbyreasonoftheirlawfulactionor
theirmembershipinalawfulorganization.Inexercisingtheserights,lawyersshallalways
conductthemselvesinaccordancewiththelawandtherecognizedstandardsandethicsof
thelegalprofession.

Professionalassociationsoflawyers

24.Lawyersshallbeentitledtoformandjoinselfgoverningprofessionalassociationsto
representtheirinterests,promotetheircontinuingeducationandtrainingandprotecttheir
professionalintegrity.Theexecutivebodyoftheprofessionalassociationsshallbeelectedby
itsmembersandshallexerciseitsfunctionswithoutexternalinterference.

25.ProfessionalassociationsoflawyersshallcooperatewithGovernmentstoensurethat
everyonehaseffectiveandequalaccesstolegalservicesandthatlawyersareable,without
improperinterference,tocounselandassisttheirclientsinaccordancewiththelawand
recognizedprofessionalstandardsandethics.

Disciplinaryproceedings


26.Codesofprofessionalconductforlawyersshallbeestablishedbythelegalprofession
throughitsappropriateorgans,orbylegislation,inaccordancewithnationallawandcustom
andrecognizedinternationalstandardsandnorms.

27.Chargesorcomplaintsmadeagainstlawyersintheirprofessionalcapacityshallbe
processedexpeditiouslyandfairlyunderappropriateprocedures.Lawyersshallhavethe
righttoafairhearing,includingtherighttobeassistedbyalawyeroftheirchoice.

28.Disciplinaryproceedingsagainstlawyersshallbebroughtbeforeanimpartialdisciplinary
committeeestablishedbythelegalprofession,beforeanindependentstatutoryauthority,
orbeforeacourt,andshallbesubjecttoanindependentjudicialreview.

29.Alldisciplinaryproceedingsshallbedeterminedinaccordancewiththecodeof
professionalconductandotherrecognizedstandardsandethicsofthelegalprofessionand
inthelightoftheseprinciples.