Amnesty International says the war on terror has eroded human rights standards and allowed governments to openly defy international law in the name of national security.
In its annual report issued in London Wednesday, the group criticized the United States for what it called its selective disregard for international law and the reported abuse of detainees.
The report said U.S. efforts to "re-define torture" have granted a license for other nations to commit human rights abuses with impunity.
It also said the brutality and violence in Sudan's Darfur region starkly illustrated the continued failure of the U.N. Security Council to prevent and punish crimes against humanity.
The group said millions of women and girls in countries around the world continue to suffer many forms of abuse including rape, genital mutilation and killings in the name of honor.
Amnesty urged world leaders to unequivocally condemn all rights abuses and reaffirm their commitment to human rights as a basis for the world's common security.
Some information for this report provided by AFP.
