The organisation highlighted the importance of the report as a way of ensuring accountability in what is the increasingly high-profile area of human rights.

Amnesty International welcomed the report’s condemnation of human rights abuses in countries like Burma, Colombia, Zimbabwe and the Democratic Republic of Congo, where it has documented widespread and persistent human rights abuses.

Amnesty International UK Director Kate Allen said:

“It’s essential that the UK government produces such a report, to allow parliament and public to scrutinise its performance on human rights.

“With the UK leading both the EU and G8 this year, we look forward to the government pushing for positive change on issues affecting human rights – not least in the adoption of an Arms Treaty to control the sale of weapons around the world.”