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: JAILED SON OF POLITICIAN DENIED FAMILY VISITS (Egypt: UA 29.23)
Anas al-Beltagy, who has been denied any contact with his family for six years, continues to be barred from prison…
August 28, 2023
Urgent Action
Urgent Action: CUBA: PRISONER OF CONSCIENCE MAYKEL OSORBO IN DANGER (Cuba: UA 76.23)
Maykel Castillo Pérez, also known as “Maykel Osorbo” is a Cuban musician and prisoner of conscience who has faced constant…
August 24, 2023
Urgent Action
Urgent Action: HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDER DETAINED FOR PROTESTING (Argentina: UA 74.23)
Alberto Nallar, human rights lawyer who played a very active role in the protests in the Jujuy Province that began…
August 23, 2023
Urgent Action
Urgent Action: YOUTH UNJUSTLY JAILED IN RELATION TO PROTEST (Egypt: UA 73.23)
Badr Mohamed is serving an unjust five-year prison sentence following his conviction in January 2023 in connection to the Ramsis…
August 2, 2023
Urgent Action
Urgent Action: UNJUSTLY JAILED COUPLE HELD INCOMMUNICADO (Egypt: UA 55.22)
Aisha el-Shater, daughter of a Muslim Brotherhood senior figure, and her husband lawyer Mohamed Abo Horeira, who were transferred to…
August 2, 2023
Urgent Action
Urgent Action: HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS AT RISK, 40+ DAYS OF VIGIL (Bolivia: UA 65.23)
84-year-old human rights defender Amparo Carvajal has spent over 45 days in vigil in cold temperatures outside the Permanent Assembly…
August 2, 2023
Urgent Action
Urgent Action: SPANISH CITIZEN HELD INCOMMUNICADO (Russia: UA 69.23)
Share: On This Page Mariano García Calatayud, a 75-year-old Spanish volunteer humanitarian worker, was forcibly disappeared by the occupying Russian…
August 1, 2023
Urgent Action
Urgent Action: JOURNALIST’S CONVICTION UPHELD ON APPEAL (Burundi: UA 13.23)
On May 2, 2023, the Court of Appeal of Mukaza in Bujumbura, Burundi, upheld the conviction of Burundian journalist Floriane…
August 1, 2023
Urgent Action
Urgent Action: STUDENTS ARRESTED FOR PEACEFUL PROTEST (Zimbabwe: UA 66.23)
On May 17, six University of Zimbabwe students, Benjamin Watadza, Emmanuel Chitima, Comfort Mpofu, Lionel Madamombe, Gamuchirai Chaburumunda and Darlington…
August 1, 2023
Urgent Action
Urgent Action: UYGHUR STUDENT CONVICTED FOR PROMOTING EXTREMISM (China: UA 33.23)
Kamile Wayit, a 19-year-old Uyghur female university student was sentenced on 25 March 2023 under the charge of “promoting extremism”…
August 1, 2023
Urgent Action
Urgent Action: WOMAN DISAPPEARED AMID POSSIBLE FEMICIDE (Argentina: UA 67.23)
Cecilia Strzyzowski (28 years old) has been missing since June 1. She was last seen with her husband, César Sena,…
August 1, 2023
Urgent Action
Urgent Action: IMPRISONED NURSE’S CONDITION DETERIORATES (Russian Federation: UA 28.23)
Irina Danilovich, a nurse and human rights activist from Russian-occupied Crimea is still being denied healthcare. She was abducted by…
August 1, 2023