United Nations Principles and Guidelines on Access to Legal Aid in Criminal Justice Systems 3 safeguard that ensures fundamental fairness and public trust in the criminal justice process, Recognizing also that the United Nations Principles and Guidelines on Access to Legal Aid in Criminal Justice Systems, annexed to the present resolution, can be applied by Member States, taking into account the great variety of legal systems and socioeconomic conditions in the world, 1. Notes with appreciation the work of the open‑ended intergovern‑ mental expert group on strengthening access to legal aid in criminal justice systems, at its meeting held in Vienna from 16 to 18 November 2011, to develop a set of principles and guidelines on access to legal aid in criminal justice systems; 2. Adopts the United Nations Principles and Guidelines on Access to Legal Aid in Criminal Justice Systems, annexed to the present resolution, as a useful framework to guide Member States on the principles on which a legal aid system in criminal justice should be based, taking into account the content of the present resolution and the fact that all elements of the annex will be applied in accordance with national legislation; 3. Invites Member States, consistent with their national legislation, to adopt and strengthen measures to ensure that effective legal aid is provided, in accordance with the spirit of the Principles and Guidelines, bearing in mind the diversity of criminal justice systems among different countries and regions around the world and the fact that legal aid is developed in accord‑ ance with the overall balance of the criminal justice system, as well as the circumstances of countries and regions; 4. Encourages Member States to consider, where appropriate, the provision of legal aid and to provide such aid to the maximum extent possible; 5. Also encourages Member States to draw upon the Principles and Guidelines, as appropriate, and in accordance with national law, in under‑ taking national efforts and measures to strengthen access to legal aid in criminal justice systems; 6. Requests the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, subject to the availability of extrabudgetary resources, to continue to provide advisory services and technical assistance to Member States, upon request, in the area of criminal justice reform, including restorative justice,