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! – Turkey: M.K. Released (UA 45/16)
Syrian refugee M.K., who had been arbitrarily detained at Istanbul’s Sabiha Gökçen airport since 9 November 2015, was released…
March 2, 2016
Urgent Action
India: Ensure Safety of Human Rights Defenders (UA 42/16)
Activists, lawyers and journalists in Bastar, Chhattisgarh, have been facing increased attacks, harassment and threats.
February 25, 2016
Urgent Action
Urgent Action Update: Gravely Ill Musician Returned To Prison (Iran: UA 41/16)
Iranian musician Mehdi Rajabian was forced to return to Tehran’s Evin Prison on 4 December. He had been on…
February 23, 2016
Urgent Action
Iran: Commute the Death Sentence of Amanj Veisee (UA 39/16)
Juvenile offender Amanj Veisee has been sentenced to death for the second time, after a retrial.
February 19, 2016
Urgent Action
Uzbekistan: Ensure Fair Trial for Aramais Avakian (UA 40/16)
Fish farmer Aramais Avakian was sentenced on 19 February to seven years in prison for “plotting anti-constitutional activities” following…
February 19, 2016
Urgent Action
Stop Action – Democratic Republic of the Congo: LUCHA Youth Activists Released (UA 37/16)
Six activists from the youth movement, Lutte pour le Changement (LUCHA) were on 26 July forcibly released from prison…
February 19, 2016
Urgent Action
Angola: Quash the Conviction Against Manuel Chivonde Nito Alves (UA 38/16)
Human rights and pro-democracy activist, Manuel Chivonde Nito Alves, was charged with contempt of Court and subjected to a…
February 19, 2016
Urgent Action
Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC): Release Bienvenu Matumo, Marcel Heritier Kambale Kapitene, and Victor Tesongo (UA 36/16)
Bienvenu Matumo, Marcel Heritier Kambale Kapitene, members of Lutte pour le Changement (LUCHA), and another activist Victor Tesongo were…
February 18, 2016
Urgent Action
Spain: Drop the Charges Against Alfonso Lázaro de la Fuente and Raúl GarcÃa Pérez (UA 35/16)
Alfonso Lázaro de la Fuente and Raúl García Pérez were arrested by police on 5 February after performing a puppet…
February 12, 2016
Urgent Action
Indonesia: Protect Members of the Ahmadiyya Religious Minority (UA 32/16)
At least 12 members of the Ahmadiyya religious minority have been forced to leave their homes in Bangka Island…
February 11, 2016
Urgent Action
Good News! Russian Federation: Performance Artist Released from Prison (UA 34/16)
Russian performance artist Pyotr Pavlensky was released from prison on 8 June after almost seven months in custody. Pyotr…
February 11, 2016
Urgent Action
Urgent Action: Demand Clemency For Leonard Peltier (USA: UA 33/16)
Native American activist Leonard Peltier has been imprisoned in the USA for over 40 years despite concerns over the…
February 10, 2016