What is the Urgent Action Network?
The concept is simple: Take Action, Change a Life.
Urgent Actions ask our community of volunteers to flood the mailboxes, inboxes, phones and social media of authorities when someone is in imminent danger of human rights violations. Your letters, emails, phone calls, faxes and Tweets have helped to halt executions, support human rights defenders and free prisoners of conscience—people jailed solely for the peaceful expression of their beliefs and identity.
Please note that the US postal service has suspended service to some countries in light of COVID-19 – reach out to [email protected] if you have any questions.
How Does It Work?
STEP 1: Sign Up Today!
Sign up to receive Urgent Action emails. You can choose to receive all emails or a more limited number. You can also choose to receive emails on specific issues or regions.
STEP 2: Take Action Now!
Urgent Action emails specify the case, local and international government officials to contact, their contact information and suggestions about what to write, say or Tweet.
Our Educator’s Guide
Are you an educator looking for ways to engage your students in human rights? Find out how your students can show their power through letter writing!
In many cases, your action on these cases leads to better conditions for prisoners and their eventual release. Those individuals at the center of these Urgent Actions often send their thanks to Amnesty International, citing that these messages serve as a source of hope.
The reason we could resist the ban and move forward was the international support and solidarity by Amnesty International activists around the world. We could not have gone further without your support.
I am very grateful for all the support I received while I was in prison. Life in prison was very difficult and I was treated badly, but the support of those who believed in me made me strong.
My case once again showed how important solidarity and attention are in protecting the freedom of speech and human rights. I admire your noble work and boundless courage, dear activists.
Browse Urgent Actions
Urgent Action
Urgent Action Update: Detainee Held Incommunicado Again (Venezuela: UA 194.17)
After being disappeared for 23 days, Raúl Isaías Baduel is once again being held incommunicado at the National Intelligence Service…
September 5, 2017
Urgent Action
Urgent Action Update: Prisoner Of Conscience Sentenced To Death (Iran: UA 212.14)
On 27 August a Revolutionary Court in Tehran sentenced spiritual teacher Mohammad Ali Taheri to death for “spreading corruption on…
August 31, 2017
Urgent Action
Urgent Action Update: Maldives To Resume Executions By September (Maldives: UA 179.17)
According to statements by the Maldives President, the death penalty would be implemented ‘by the end of September’. If carried…
August 31, 2017
Urgent Action
Urgent Action: Independent News Director Detained (Azerbaijan: UA 200.17)
Mehman Aliyev, the director of independent news agency Turan, has been arbitrarily detained since 24 August on what appears to…
August 30, 2017
Urgent Action
Urgent Action: Papuan Prisoner of Conscience Denied Parole (Indonesia: UA 199.17)
Political activist, Oktovianus Warnares was convicted of “rebellion” (makar) in 2013 after peacefully commemorating the 50th anniversary of the handover…
August 30, 2017
Urgent Action
Urgent Action Victory! Arkansas Governor To Commute Death Sentence (USA: UA 74.17)
On 25 August, the Governor of Arkansas announced his intent to commute the death sentence of Jason McGehee, who had…
August 28, 2017
Urgent Action
Urgent Action Victory! Zambia Opposition Leader Released (Zambia: UA 90.17)
Leader of the United Party for National Development (UPND), Hakainde Hichilema and five others accused with him have been released.…
August 28, 2017
Urgent Action
Urgent Action: Urban Artist At Risk In Cuba (Cuba: UA 189.17)
After being arbitrarily detained on 17 August, Yulier Perez, a graffiti artist known for painting dilapidated walls in Havana, is…
August 25, 2017
Urgent Action
Urgent Action Victory! Six Activists Commemorating Liu Xiabo Released (China: UA 190.17)
Six activists who were criminally detained in July 2017, after taking part in a seaside memorial for Liu Xiaobo in…
August 25, 2017
Urgent Action
Urgent Victory! Sudanese Doctor Released Without Charge (Sudan: UA 97.17)
Dr. Mohamed Yasin Abdalla, the chairperson of the Central Committee of Sudanese Doctors (CCSD), has been released without charge. He…
August 24, 2017
Urgent Action
Urgent Action Victory! Governor Stays Execution, Orders Inquiry (USA: UA 183.17)
On 22 August, the governor of Missouri issued a stay of execution for Marcellus Williams who was due to be…
August 23, 2017
Urgent Action
Urgent Action: Worrying Crackdown On Kenyan Defenders (Kenya: UA 198.17)
Kenya’s NGO Coordination Board threatened to arrest George Kegoro, Executive Director of Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC), Gladwell Otieno, Executive Director…
August 22, 2017