After the tragic events of 11 September 2001, human rights have come under attack from armed groups and governments in all parts of the world. Amnesty International condemns the atrocities committed by groups such as al-Qa'ida, and we strongly believe the people who carry out these cruel and criminal acts must be brought to justice.

In the new security climate, governments have also violated human rights and undermined the international standards that protect people from abuse. Some use it as an excuse to persecute their political opponents.

Efforts to combat terrorism should not and don't need to ? come at the cost of human rights. A secure community is one where human rights are respected. Ensuring respect for human rights is the only path to lasting security.

Torture

Torture is illegal and immoral. International human rights standards and governments of all persuasions have long condemned torture and ill-treatment. For governments that practiced torture, it was their shameful secret.

However the USA and its allies in the 'war on terror' have attempted to undermine the ban that protects us all from torture. They have also tried to excuse, justify, or benefit from the work of torturers. The USA refuses to properly investigate the many claims that its own security forces have tortured or ill-treated people in Iraq, Afghanistan and Guantanamo Bay.

Torture does not stop terror. Torture is terror. It is cruel, inhuman and it degrades us all.

Guantanamo Bay

For more than four years, hundreds of people from about 40 different countries have been held by the US Administration at a military base in Guantnamo Bay, Cuba. Most have not been charged, tried or given access to lawyers. The few detainees who have been charged with an offence, including Australian David Hicks, will not receive fair trials when they are brought before Military Commissions.

They are in legal limbo, denied their rights under international law. Put simply, they should be charged with recognisable criminal offences, and given fair trials, or they should be released.

Iraq and Afghanistan

The occupations of Iraq and Afghanistan have brought new waves of human rights violations by US-led forces, national armed forces and armed groups opposing occupation. Detainees have been tortured and ill-treated, civilians targeted for attack and hostages killed. Women endure continuing violence and harassment.

Australia's response

The Australian Government has responded to the threat of terrorism by changing national security laws in ways that undermine the basic human rights of Australians. The new laws create new offences relating to terrorist activity, but they do not define many of the activities they are supposed to prohibit.

They breach international human rights standards and compromise long-standing protections in the Australian legal system, including the right to silence, the right to a public hearing and the right to choose a lawyer.