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: Hundreds Stranded At Mexico-Guatemala Border (Mexico/Guatemala: UA 130.17)
Approximately 400 people from rural Guatemala are stranded at the Mexico-Guatemala border in temporary shelters and tents, without adequate access…
June 8, 2017
Urgent Action
Urgent Action Update: Three Charges Against Journalist Dropped (Madagascar: UA 108.17)
Fernand Cello, a Malagasy investigative journalist, has had three charges which were related to his journalism work dropped. These charges…
June 8, 2017
Urgent Action
Urgent Action Update: Saudi Arabian Activist Held Incommunicado (Saudi Arabia: UA 124.17)
Saudi Arabian human rights defender Mohammad al-Otaibi has been detained incommunicado in Saudi Arabia since 28 May, after he was…
June 8, 2017
Urgent Action
Urgent Action: Human Rights Defender Threatened With Violence (Bangladesh: UA 131.17)
Prominent human rights defender Sultana Kamal has received threats of violence from the Islamist group Hefazat-e-Islam, following comments she made…
June 7, 2017
Urgent Action
Urgent Action Update: Chadian Activist Granted Provisional Release (Chad: 118.17)
Chadian activist Maoundoe Decladore Djikoldingam has been granted provisional release by an investigating judge pending an investigation into his case,…
June 7, 2017
Urgent Action
Urgent Action Update: Unsafe Refugee Camps In Greece Evacuated (Greece: UA 93.17)
The three refugee camps in the Elliniko area, Athens, were evacuated on 2 June. The majority of refugees and migrants…
June 6, 2017
Urgent Action
Urgent Action: Sick Elderly Iranian Activist On Travel Ban (Iran: UA 120.17)
Elderly human rights defender Dr Mohammad Maleki, 84, is being prevented from leaving Iran to visit his children in the…
June 2, 2017
Urgent Action
Urgent Action: Activists Held Under Administrative Detention (India: UA 128.17)
G Thirumurugan Gandhi, D Arun Kumar, M Tyson, and Ilamaran were arrested on 21 May 2017 for attempting to stage…
June 2, 2017
Urgent Action
Urgent Action Victory! Journalists Cleared Of Criminal Defamation (Timor Leste: UA 230.16)
On 1 June, a Dili court cleared Raimundos Oki and Lourenco Vicente Martins of all charges against them. The two…
June 2, 2017
Urgent Action
Urgent Action: Activist Detained Incommunicado For 17 Days (Saudi Arabia: UA 125.17)
Saudi Arabian human rights defender Ali Shaaban has been detained incommunicado since 15 May, raising fears that he might be…
June 1, 2017
Urgent Action
Urgent Action Victory! Social Media Activist Released From Prison (Maldives: UA 70.17)
Maldivian social media activist Thayyib Shaheem was released on 17 April after spending almost one month on remand in Dhoonidhoo…
May 31, 2017
Urgent Action
Urgent Action Update: Health Risks For Detainee In Isolation For 232 Days (Morocco/Western Sahara: UA 219.15)
Following seven months of prolonged solitary confinement, Ali Aarrass’ health condition has critically deteriorated. He is currently serving a 12-year…
May 30, 2017