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 Victory! Russia Drops Case Against Rights Defender (Russian Federation: UA 121.16)
The criminal case against prominent Russian human rights defender Valentina Cherevatenko for “violation of ‘foreign agents’ law” was closed on…
August 8, 2017
Urgent Action
Urgent Action Victory! Harassed Priest Granted Fellowship Abroad (Sri Lanka: UA 116.17)
Since being summoned for questioning by the Sri Lankan police for hosting a memorial for the war dead, Father Elil…
August 8, 2017
Urgent Action
Urgent Action Update: Falun Gong Practitioner Indefinitely Detained (China: UA 216.16)
A judge has asked the prosecutor to collect further evidence for the trial of Falun Gong practitioner, Chen Huixia, for…
August 3, 2017
Urgent Action
Urgent Action Victory! Syrian-Kurdish Opposition Activist Released (Syria: UA 123.17)
Syrian-Kurdish opposition activist Mohsen Taher was released from Allaya prison in Qamishli, north-eastern Syria, on 29 July. He had been…
August 3, 2017
Urgent Action
Urgent Action Victory! All 28 Men Suspected Of Being Gay Released (Bangladesh: UA 112.17)
The five remaining men still being held on bail, of the 28 who were arrested at a social event outside…
August 2, 2017
Urgent Action
Urgent Action Victory! Egyptian Prisoner Of Conscience Released (Egypt: UA 176.17)
Human rights defender Tarek Hussein was released on 27 July. After being arbitrarily detained for 40 days, the former prisoner…
August 2, 2017
Urgent Action
Urgent Action Update: More Uighur Students At Risk Of Forcible Return (Egypt: UA 168.17)
Another 10 Uighur students were forcibly returned by the Egyptian authorities back to China, bringing the total to 22 in…
August 1, 2017
Urgent Action
Urgent Action: Israeli Civilians Abducted For More Than 2 Years (Israel/OPT: UA 133.17)
Avera Mangistu and Hisham al-Sayed have been missing respectively since 7 September 2014 and 20 April 2015 in the Gaza…
July 31, 2017
Urgent Action
Urgent Action Update: Female Activist Sentenced To Nine Years In Prison (Viet Nam: UA 24.17)
Labour and land rights activist Trần Thị Nga was sentenced to nine years’ imprisonment on 25 July 2017 for “conducting…
July 31, 2017
Urgent Action
Urgent Action: Bahraini Activist Risks 7 Years In Jail For Retweets (Bahrain: UA 185.17)
Bahraini activist Yaser Mawali has been on trial before the Lower Court in Manama, the capital, since 7 June charged…
July 28, 2017
Urgent Action
Urgent Action Update: Activists Arrested For Tiananmen Commemoration (China: UA 148.17)
Two activists, Ding Yajun and Shi Tingfu, have been formally charged with “picking quarrels and provoking trouble” for commemorating the…
July 28, 2017
Urgent Action
Urgent Action Victory! Professor Released After 47 Days Of Abduction (Libya: UA 109.17)
University professor Dr. Salem Mohamed Beitelmal was released on 6 June. He had been abducted by local militias on the…
July 27, 2017