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
Good News! – Human Rights Defender Malek Adly Released (Egypt: UA 98/16)
On 28 August human rights defender Malek Adly was released from a police station in Shubra al-Khaimah, three days…
April 27, 2016
Urgent Action
Iran: Reveal Yousef Silavi’s Whereabouts (UA 97/16)
The Iranian authorities have yet to establish the fate and whereabouts of Yousef Silavi, from Iran’s Ahwazi Arab minority,…
April 26, 2016
Urgent Action
Pakistan: Grant Clemency to Abdul Basit (UA 96/16)
A Pakistani man convicted and sentenced to death for murder in 2009, Abdul Basit, is at risk of execution.…
April 26, 2016
Urgent Action
Help Drop Charges Against Prisoners Of Conscience (Togo: UA 94/16)
Two prisoners of conscience and two other men have been released on bail in Dapaong, Northern Togo. Five other…
April 26, 2016
Urgent Action
Good News! Oman: Abdullah Habib Released (UA 92/16)
Omani poet, writer, film critic and human rights defender, Abdullah Habib was released without charge on 4 May. …
April 22, 2016
Urgent Action
Urgent Action Update: Crackdown On Human Rights Defenders Continues (Egypt: UA 81/16)
The El Nadeem Center for Rehabilitation of Victims of Violence was raided by police and shut down on 9 February.…
April 22, 2016
Urgent Action
Urgent Action Update: Prisoner In Solitary Confinement On Hunger Strike (Egypt: UA 91/16)
Ahmed Amin Ghazali Amin has been on hunger strike since 9 March, in protest against his solitary confinement, which…
April 20, 2016
Urgent Action
Sudan: Release the Five Student Activists (UA 89/16)
Five student activists from the University of Khartoum in Sudan have been detained without charge in Khartoum North since…
April 20, 2016
Urgent Action
Thailand: Release Watana Muangsook (UA 90/16)
A prisoner of conscience is being held in military custody in Thailand, with no access to lawyers or family.
April 20, 2016
Urgent Action
Colombia: Guarantee Safety to Human Rights Defenders and Trade Unionists (UA 88/16)
Human rights defenders and trade unionists in Valle del Cauca Department, south-west Colombia, are in danger after receiving death…
April 13, 2016
Urgent Action
Chad: Release Dr. Albissaty Salhe Alazam (UA 84/16)
Dr. Albissaty Salhe Alazam arrested and detained on 4 April for his participation in organising a peaceful demonstration that…
April 12, 2016
Urgent Action
Mexico: Investigate Cases of Enforced Disappearances (UA 83/16)
Public officials in the northern Mexican state of Chihuahua have intimidated relatives of disappeared people and are pressuring them to…
April 11, 2016