International organisations have welcomed Thailand's decision to remove the leg shackles from death row inmates, but say other forms of ill treatment still need to be addressed.
Matilda Bogner, regional representative of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) Regional Office for Southeast Asia, said death row conditions in many countries fall far short of international norms that prohibit cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.
The OHCHR and the human rights mechanisms of the United Nations have regularly expressed concern over the shackling of inmates on death row, said Ms Bogner.
The practice of shackling undermined the dignity of the judicial process by seriously compromising the respectful treatment to which all prisoners were entitled, the Bangkok-based diplomat said.
Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra views shackles used on prisoners at Bang Kwang central prison, Bangkok.
"The decision of the government of Thailand is therefore a significant development we very much welcome. It is an important step towards the improvement of the conditions of detention for all detainees in Thailand," said Ms Bogner.
This, she said, illustrated Thailand's efforts to comply with its international obligations under the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment.
“We are confident that the government of Thailand will take additional steps in the near future to prevent any forms of ill-treatment,” said the OHCHR regional representative.
Somchai Homlaor, chair of Amnesty International Thailand, said shackling the inmates was a form of torture and a violation of the 2007 constitution.
The unshackling of the first 400 inmates would be hopefully expanded to include other detainees nationwide, and should include when they attend court hearings, said Mr Somchai.
He also called for other integrated measures such as ending the problem of prison overcrowding, separating detainees of different levels of offences and stages of processing - especially those on trial and those already convicted - and ensuring provision of additional and timely medical and public health services inside prisons.
Amnesty International Thailand director Parinya Boonridrerthaikul said two-thirds of the world had already abolished capital punishment. Thailand should follow that trend by announcing an immediate moratorium on the death penalty, under the 2nd national human rights plan of action.
Ms Parinya said the 3rd human rights master plan being drafted now should also continue the effort to end capital punishment.
Eventually, Thailand should adopt the Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, she said. The protocol commits signatories to the abolition of the death penalty within their borders.