London, May 28: The US-led "war on terror" has made the world more dangerous and left people feeling less secure, Amnesty International today said. In its annual report, the international human rights organisation said that human rights have been threatened, international laws have been undermined and governments have been shielded from scrutiny - all in the cause of fighting terrorism.
"Draconian measures by democratic as well as autocratic governments to intrude and intercept, to arrest and detain suspects without trial and to deport people with no regard to their fate, weakened human rights protection of individuals as well as respect for the standards of international law," said Irene Khan, Amnesty International's secretary general.
"The USA continued to detain prisoners from the war in Afghanistan in defiance of international humanitarian law, turned a blind eye to reports of torture or ill-treatment of suspects by its officials and allies, and sought to undermine the international criminal court through bilateral agreements.
"In the process, it undermined its own moral authority to speak out against human rights violations in other parts of the world.
"Action that makes people feel insecure cannot make states or societies secure. Because of the real or alleged actions of a few individuals, entire communities identified by race, religion or national origin are being viewed with suspicion. The result is growing unease and uncertainty among large sections of the population. Bureau Report