A/HRC/19/2 to the rights of the elderly and disabled. Cambodia welcomed Thailand’s decision to extend cooperation to the special procedures. 518. Singapore welcomed the constructive approach demonstrated by Thailand throughout the universal periodic review process and its acceptance of a large number of recommendations, including two made by Singapore. It expressed its readiness to continue to cooperate with Thailand in strengthening the promotion of human rights in the region, including through the ASEAN Inter-Governmental Commission on Human Rights. 3. General comments made by other relevant stakeholders 519. The National Human Rights Commission of Thailand welcomed the Government’s acceptance of many recommendations and hoped to see the Government implement them with renewed commitment and vigour. It emphasized that the Government should strengthen the rule of law as a necessary framework for human rights protection, especially in the southern border provinces, where a large number of people were affected by violent incidents. Special protection should be provided to vulnerable groups. Regarding the 38 recommendations not accepted by Thailand, the Commission proposed that there be a more positive response from the Government on recommendations relating to the death penalty, freedom of expression, the rights of refugees and asylum seekers and the ratification of the Rome Statute. It noted that abolishing the death penalty was a controversial but desirable step, and that the Government should at least limit its use to the most serious crimes. 520. The Association for the Prevention of Torture urged Thailand to ensure that the amendments to its laws were fully in line with the Convention against Torture, not only in criminalizing torture but also in taking measures to prevent and investigate torture and other ill-treatment, and to provide redress to victims. It welcomed Thailand’s commitment to studying the possibility of ratifying the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture, and hoped that Thailand would engage in a process of open and public consultation on its ratification and implementation. The Association commended Thailand for issuing a standing invitation and on its stated intentions to send an invitation to the Special Rapporteur on torture and to become a party to the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance. 521. Human Rights Watch regretted the fact that Thailand had rejected all recommendations calling for the review of the lèse majesté law to safeguard freedom of expression. It appreciated the fact that Thailand had accepted recommendations to investigate killings by security forces, recalling that at least 90 people had died during the violent confrontations from March to May 2010. According to Human Rights Watch, some actions by the Government appeared one sided, for instance ignoring the violence committed by the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD). Regarding the conflict in the southern border provinces, it noted that the Government had accepted recommendations to address impunity. Progress needed to be made with regard to enforced disappearances and torture. It referred to the failure to conduct an inquiry on the 2003 “war on drugs”, and was concerned about targets set to rehabilitate 400,000 drug users in 2012. Procedures concerning refugees and asylum seekers and the protection of migrants needed to be improved. 522. The Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development regretted the fact that, despite the Government’s pledges to reform the mandate of the truth and reconciliation commission of Thailand, truth-seeking had been entirely overlooked and the process of prosecuting alleged perpetrators significantly delayed. The Forum expressed its concern that cases of lèse majesté continued to proliferate, with undue restrictions on the right to bail. While welcoming the issued standing invitation, the Forum pointed to the urgent need for a visit of the Special Rapporteur on the right to freedom of opinion and expression to assist the Government. It expressed concern about the prolonged use of special security laws in the 210 GE.13-14768