A/HRC/32/17 54. Zimbabwe noted policies and programmes to improve social protection, particularly for the elderly and low- and middle-income groups. It welcomed the ratification of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and the Palermo Protocol. 55. Afghanistan welcomed the implementation of the second national plan for persons with disabilities to help them to better integrate in the community. 56. Albania welcomed measures by Singapore to provide quality and affordable care for elderly persons, putting in place programmes and relevant infrastructure. 57. Algeria welcomed measures to strengthen social welfare programmes, especially for the most destitute, and the national plan for the elderly. 58. Argentina welcomed the national action plan against trafficking in persons. It expressed concern about the use of the death penalty. 59. Australia welcomed the ratification of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and the signature of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, as well as the Misuse of Drugs (Amendment) Act and the Penal Code (Amendment) Act. 60. Austria welcomed the progress achieved by Singapore since its previous review, including the protection of the rights of the elderly and persons with disabilities, and the fight against human trafficking. It encouraged extending an invitation to the Special Rapporteur on freedom of expression. 61. In response to questions on the death penalty, Singapore said no civilized society glorified in the taking of lives. Singapore applied capital punishment to deter the most serious crimes such as murder and drug trafficking. 62. Singapore said it was small and densely populated, and situated in a region with major drug trafficking centres. Ensuring Singaporeans’ fundamental right to safety and security was paramount. By being tough on crime and emphasizing rehabilitation, the system succeeded in protecting lives while having one of the world’s lowest homicide rates. Drug abuse rates were kept under control. 63. In 2012, following a regular criminal justice review and rigorous debates in Parliament, Singapore made the mandatory death penalty discretionary under very specific situations. 64. The application of corporal punishment was guided by necessity and proportionality. There were absolute limits on the number of strokes, and it was administered under highly regulated conditions. 65. Singapore enacted the Protection from Harassment Act in 2014 in response to calls for greater protection from harassment, including online harassment, from its citizens and civil society. 66. Singapore kept core treaties under review and engaged seriously with treaty bodies. While Singapore was not party to certain treaties, its domestic policies generally complied with their substance. 67. Singapore gave space for freedom of assembly without compromising order and stability. Public assemblies generally required permits, except those posing lower safety and security risks. From 2012 to 2015, 88 public demonstrations took place at the Speakers’ Corner. 68. Singapore applied preventive detention without trial only as a last resort and only under exceptional circumstances to counter serious threats against public order or national 7