Human Rights Were Under Attack in 2015: Report

Human rights are fast becoming a casualty in the drive to wipe out fanatical groups like ISIS and Boko Haram, NBC News reported.

That was grim warning from the head of Amnesty International on Tuesday as the watchdog group released its annual report on the state of human rights around the world.

"What is unique to 2015 is that we are worried the very system that is protecting human rights around the world is itself under threat," said Amnesty International's Secretary General Salil Shetty.

Shetty said they've detected an "insidious and creeping attempt to dismantle" the seven-decade old system to protect human rights worldwide. Basic rights are in danger of being trampled by governments locked in battles with terrorist groups, he warned.

"The actions of these groups cannot be used as justification for any government to violate human rights or international law for short term gain," he said.

Even in countries usually supportive of human rights, citizens should not take their right to privacy, free speech of free assembly for granted.

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