U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton says 2011 was an especially “tumultuous and momentous” year for those whose human rights are at risk around the world, and for all trying to ensure that governments honor human rights guarantees.

In a news conference Thursday, Clinton said men and women demanded their rights from the Arab Spring revolutions in the Middle East and to Burma, where historical political reforms took place.

She noted that Egyptian citizens are going to the polls for the first time to determine who their leaders will be, 15 months after long-time President Hosni Mubarak resigned amid massive protests.

But Clinton denounced the Syrian government's approach to human rights. She said the “brutality” of the regime of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad must end, noting that Syrians are aware they deserve better treatment.

The U.S. State Department is issuing a lengthy report Thursday examining human-rights practices around the world.