A/66/265 (e) Access to legal representation is of utmost importance and underpins all forms of penalization of persons living in poverty. States shall ensure quality legal aid for the poorest segments of society, not only for criminal proceedings but also with respect to issues which are particularly relevant for persons living in poverty, such as social benefit appeals, eviction and child protection procedures; (f) States must ensure that all criminal and regulatory policies comply with human rights standards, including the principles of equality and non-discrimination and the presumption of innocence. Laws which specifically target the particular behaviours and actions of persons living in poverty amount to discrimination on the basis of economic and social status, and shall be repealed; (g) States shall recall their obligations to ensure that everyone has the right to adequate housing as a component of the right to an adequate standard of living. This right requires States to ensure the affordability of housing and its accessibility to social services and infrastructure. They must also refrain from carrying out forced evictions. Where evictions are unavoidable, States shall ensure that they are conducted in a manner which respects the dignity and rights to life and security of those affected;58 (h) The design and implementation of social benefit systems must comply with human rights norms, including the rights of persons living in poverty to privacy and family life and to take part in the decisions that affect them. Surveillance policies, conditionalities and other requirements must be reviewed to ensure that they do not violate human rights obligations by imposing a disproportionate burden on those living in poverty. When collecting and processing information pertaining to beneficiaries, States shall ensure that they observe internationally accepted standards of privacy and confidentiality, and shall not disseminate such information to other authorities or use it for other purposes without the consent of the beneficiary; (i) States must only have recourse to detention and incarceration when it is necessary to meet a pressing societal need, and in a manner proportionate to that need. States must ensure that arrest or detention does not disproportionately affect those living in poverty. To this end, States shall: (i) Review all detention and incarceration policies and legislation, in order to identify and remove discriminatory laws and practices which disproportionately disadvantage persons living in poverty. Measures should be put in place to enable police, courts and public officials to adequately assess the potential effects of detention or incarceration in the light of each individual’s circumstances; (ii) Ensure that to the greatest possible extent, bail processes take into account the economic and societal circumstances of persons living in poverty. __________________ 58 11-44449 See Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, general comment No. 7; Basic Principles and Guidelines on Development based Evictions and Displacement (A/HRC/4/18). 23