(Washington, DC) – Amnesty International today denounced armed groups and governments for unleashing weapons of terror – direct attacks, indiscriminate attacks, and torture, including rape – on civilian populations worldwide in what it said was the most sustained attack on human rights in 50 years. In releasing its 2004 global survey of human rights, the organization included its analysis of the role of armed groups, sometimes dubbed "terrorists" by the governments battling them.

The organization has documented the activity of 177 a armed groups in 65 countries over the previous four years. Amnesty International has detailed human rights abuses committed by slightly more than two-thirds (69%) of the groups. Governments, too, attracted sharp criticism for committing many of the same violations the groups employed and for justifying their response as initiatives in the "war on terror." In fact, responses by nearly one in three governments (32%) to armed group activity led to civilian deaths. Amnesty International warned that by adopting the same methods, governments risked lending undeserveddangerous credibility to the very weapons of terror employed by armed groups.

"The 'war on terror', which President Bush says has made America more secure, has devolved into a global street brawl with governments and armed groups duking it out and , as innocent civilians suffering severely," said Dr. William F. Schulz, Executive Director of Amnesty International USA (AIUSA). "Worldwide, armed groups commit atrocities serious enough to be characterized as war crimes or crimes against humanity. At the same time, But in doing so,too many governments have lent must not lend a veneer of legitimacy to the actions of armed groups by disregarding human rights, and in some cases, by committing war crimes and crimes against humanity themselves. Whether in the name of anti-terrorism, counter-insurgency or security, the US and other governments have suspended, circumvented or violated the law and weakened the best defense against the insecurity and ofviolence: respect for human rights. Locked in a deadly embrace of violence, armed groups and governments are riding roughshod over human rights."

Amnesty International's research reveals that more than half (55%) of groups identified haved killed civilians over the last four years. 20Twenty percent % of the groups committed inflicted rape and orother sexual violence, as part of their violent activities, as did 28% of governments. And oOne in five armed groups used child soldiers. in their efforts. Governments in 36% of the countries where armed groups were present used torture in their response, while more than one in four (28%) used incommunicado detention.

"It is clear that the way in which the 'war on terror' is being conducted today is not making us safer," Schulz said. "It is making the world more dangerous. And by relying on force alone, the US government has sacrificed one of its major weapons in the struggle against terrorism, namely its reputation as an exemplar of human rights.

Schulz cited the worldwide repercussions of the alleged torture and humiliation of Iraqi prisoners by US servicemembers as a new challenge to the US government.

Without corrective action and "without the full embrace of human rights principles and standards, it will be far more difficult to convince the world that the motives of the United States are pure. Government officials will now be challenged to prove the war is being fought in defense of liberty and rights and not for nefarious purposes," he said.

Dr. Jessica Stern, Lecturer at Harvard's Kennedy School of Government, who joined Schulz at the press conference said, "Recent events in Iraq have made clear that we cannot prosecute a war against existing 'terrorists' without giving some thought to what inspires and motivates new recruits. I have talked to many 'terrorists' over the last six years. While they have many differences, one grievance voiced by almost every militant I spoke with is the sense of having been deeply humiliated, and the belief that by participating in a holy war, dignity and honor are restored. It is in this context that the war in Iraq, and, in particular, the heart-wounding images of American soldiers humiliating and torturing Iraqi prisoners, become so important."

In the 339-page report that covers 155 countries, Amnesty International also provided data on human rights violations carried out by governments in 20032003. Extrajudicial executions were carried out in 47countries. People were "disappeared" by state agents in 28countries. Victims of torture and ill-treatment by security forces, police and other state authorities were reported in132countries. Governments held prisoners of conscience in 44countries. People were arbitrarily arrested and detained without charge or trial in 58 countries. People were executed in 28 countries. The United States was cited for torture and ill-treatment, detention without charge or trial, and executions.

Visit www.amnestyusa.org/for more information on the 2004 Annual Report, its Stop Violence Against Women campaign, its Control Arms campaign, or torture in Iraq.

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