Amnesty International has called on President Obama to regain his "credibility" on human rights - which the British charity said he was in danger of losing.
In his victory speech last night, Obama outlined his vision for a united America that prioritises equality.
He said: "I believe we can keep the promise of our founding, the idea that if you're willing to work hard, it doesn't matter who you are or where you come from or what you look like or where you love.“
Students hold a poster of Barack Obama as they watch the US election vote counting at SDN 01 Menteng elementary school where Obama studied in Jakarta, Indonesia
"It doesn't matter whether you're black or white or Hispanic or Asian or Native American or young or old or rich or poor, abled, disabled, gay or straight. You can make it here in America if you're willing to try."
Responding to his re-election, Amnesty International USA executive director Suzanne Nossel said in a statement that there were many areas, in foreign policy, defence and use of torture, where the President had not lived up to liberal expectations.
“President Obama has been given a second chance to keep his promises on human rights. Don’t blow it.
“When he was first elected in 2008, many human rights activists rejoiced.
"It had been eight long years where the United States tortured, detained hundreds without charge and trial, and tried to justify the horrors of Abu Ghraib.
“President Obama’s first campaign for the White House offered the promise of an administration that would recapture the United States’ credibility on human rights issues, bringing detention practices in line with international law, repudiating secrecy and ensuring that human rights weren’t traded away in the name of national security.
“More simply, President Obama promised a new dawn of American leadership, one in which human rights would be given more than lip-service."
But, she added: “Unfortunately the first Obama administration broke many of its promises when human rights were pitted against national security interests.
"When it comes to countering terrorism, President Obama has hidden behind national security imperatives to shield administration policy in secrecy and pursue programmes such as expanded drone use.
“President Obama’s second term will determine whether the post-9/11 stains on the United States’ human rights record are an anomaly or the new normal.
"It was Mitt Romney who said of the challenges of counter-terrorism that ‘we can't kill our way out of this mess’, but too many of President Obama’s policies are an attempt to do just that.
“Unlawful killings and other human rights violations sanctioned by the US government undermine the rule of law globally, creating a climate in which other countries can point to a double-standard to justify their own human rights abuses with the refrain, ‘if the US government does that, why shouldn’t we.’
“The United States’ power and influence should derive from its commitment to the rule of law and to advancing human rights and dignity. President Obama should not trade that away at any price.