administrative justice system comprises administrative courts (37) and a State Council. A Jurisdiction Court was established to settle conflicts of jurisdiction between the two sets of courts. - An adapted system of distribution of courts taking into account the enhancement of the principle of bringing justice closer to the people, including through the establishment of an adequate number of courts and even sections, the establishment of an appropriate map of judicial districts taking into account, in particular, the volume of cases and the difficulties relating to the long distances between towns in the southern regions of the country. - A revised system of legal aid giving all citizens access to the justice system irrespective of their economic and social status. The following have access to legal aid as a matter of law: minors, parties applying for maintenance, mothers in child custody matters, and workers in matters pertaining to occupational accidents or illness. 158. Moreover, free legal service is provided to all minors before a juvenile court or any other criminal court; on request, to accused persons appearing before an investigating judge or a court ruling on major offences; on request, to persons filling an appeal to be heard by the Criminal Division of the Supreme Court when the sentence exceeds a five-year term of imprisonment; to defendants suffering from a disability that may adversely affect their defence; on request, to accused persons appearing before a criminal court; and to victims of trafficking in persons, smuggling of migrants and organ removal. 159. Simplification of procedures in order to facilitate access to justice; the two main codes of procedure (civil and criminal) have been amended on several occasions since 1999: - The cautio judicatum solvi was abolished for foreign nationals in the new Code of Civil and Administrative Procedure. - An affordable justice manual has been prepared, in a simple format, to provide citizens with information on the key judicial procedures. - Organisation of open days for receiving and informing litigants and citizens at the central administration of the Ministry of Justice and in courts. - A broad programme for implementing information and communication technologies was launched and has been realised to a large extent. Websites are already operational at the Chancellery and in courts, in particular with the installation of an Intranet network at the Ministry of Justice which will be connected to all courts in the country. - Establishment of a national centre for criminal records linked to all courts, which makes it possible for citizens to obtain a copy of their criminal record anytime and from any court. 160. Moreover, the right to a fair trial, both in criminal and civil proceedings, is a right governed by fundamental principles and specific rules laid down in the Algerian Constitution and legislation. 161. These principles and rules deal with the rights of parties to civil and criminal proceedings, and lay down the relevant procedures to be considered in an impartial manner by a regularly constituted court. 162. Fair trial standards in Algeria, in theory and in practice, are consistent with those laid down in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. 27