Amnesty International says the global response to atrocities by states and armed groups in 2014 has been shameful and ineffective.

The human rights organisation is launching its annual report today, which has found that war crimes and other violations of the 'laws of war' were carried out in at least 18 of the 160 countries they studied.

In relation to Ireland, the report is critical of the abortion legislation enacted last year.

Amnesty International is condemning the international community's response to conflict in 2014, saying it has failed utterly to deal with humanitarian crises in countries including Syria, Nigeria and Iraq.

The human rights organisation predicts violence will increase this year as armed groups like Boko Haram, IS and Al Shabaab continue to gain strength.

It's calling on international governments to stop pretending the protection of civilians is beyond their power and deal with the humanitarian crises that these conflicts create.

The Amnesty report is also critical of Ireland - saying abortion legislation here doesn't comply with human rights obligations.

It says the Protection of Life During Pregnancy Act provides insufficient guidance to medical professionals in assessing when a pregnancy posed a risk to life.

However the charity has welcomed the Constitutional Convention on civil marriage for same-sex couples.

It also praised the removal of the offence of blasphemy, and the incorporation of economic, social and cultural rights into the constitution.