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: POLITICAL ACTIVISTS UNJUSTLY DETAINED (Tunisia: UA 52.23)
POLITICAL ACTIVISTS UNJUSTLY DETAINED Since February 2023, Tunisian authorities have opened criminal investigations against at least 21 people including political opposition activists, lawyers, and businessmen on unfounded accusations of conspiracy.…
Urgent Action
Urgent Action: PRISONER OF CONSCIENCE DENIED HEALTH CARE (Yemen: UA 51.23)
Journalists Mohammed al-Salahi and Mohammed al-Junaid continue to be detained by the Huthi de facto authorities in Hodeidah, Yemen, despite the expiry of their sentences on 20 June 2022 and…
Urgent Action
Urgent Action: BILL THREATENS INDIGENOUS RIGHTS IN BRAZIL (Brazil: UA 57.23)
Bill 2903/2023 is set to be voted in coming days by the Senate. The bill – approved on May 30 by the Brazilian Chamber of Deputies – seeks to make…
Urgent Action
Urgent Action: INDIGENOUS RIGHTS ACTIVISTS REPORTED MISSING (Philippines: UA 50.23)
Indigenous Peoples’ rights defenders Dexter Capuyan and Gene Roz Jamil “Bazoo” de Jesus, from the Cordillera region in northern Philippines, have been missing since 28 April 2023, in a suspected…
Urgent Action
Urgent Action: REFUGEES AND MIGRANTS FACE CRIMINALIZATION (Chile: UA 41.23)
On 10 April 2023, the Commission on Citizen Security of the Chilean Chamber of Deputies began its discussion of a bill that criminalizes refugees and migrants in Chile who lack…
Urgent Action
Urgent Action: CHILD PROTESTERS TARGETED IN THAILAND (Thailand: UA 14.23)
Thai authorities are prosecuting and harassing child human rights defenders for peacefully exercising their right to protest. LGBTI campaigner Thanakorn ‘Petch’ Phiraban has been sentenced; ‘Sand’ is on trial, Chan…
Urgent Action
Urgent Action: PRESIDENT MUST VETO ANTI-LBGTI LEGISLATION (Uganda: UA 48.23)
On 2 May, Uganda’s Parliament passed the 2023 Anti-Homosexuality Bill and sent it back to President Yoweri Museveni. The President has until 31 May to either sign, veto or return…
Urgent Action
Urgent Action: SIX AHWAZI ARABS AT GRAVE RISK OF EXECUTION (Iran: UA 49.23)
Six men – Ali Mojadam, Moein Khanfari, Mohammad Reza Moghadam, Salem Mousavi, Adnan Ghobeishavi and Habib Deris – from Iran’s persecuted Ahwazi Arab minority face imminent execution. A Revolutionary Court…
Urgent Action
Urgent Action: HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDER FACES CRIMINAL CHARGES (Belarus 97.22)
After having served almost 75 days in detention for purported petty hooliganism, Belarusian human rights defender and educator Nasta (Anastasia) Loika faces unfounded criminal charges and remains in detention. The…
Urgent Action
Urgent Action: GRAVE RISK OF EXECUTIONS IN RELATION TO PROTESTS (Iran: UA 103.22)
At least seven individuals in Iran are under sentence of death in connection with nationwide protests, while dozens of others are at risk of being sentenced to death. The authorities…
Urgent Action
Urgent Action: CONSCIENTIOUS OBJECTOR DETAINED IN ISRAEL (IOPT: 39.23)
20-year-old Yuval Dag is serving a 20-day detention order at Neve Tzedek military prison in Tel Aviv for refusing to enlist in the Israeli army to which he was summoned…
Urgent Action
Urgent Action: FREE JOURNALIST SENTENCED TO FIVE YEARS IMMEDIATELY (Algeria: UA 37.23)
On 2 April, the tribunal of Sidi M’hamed in Algiers convicted prominent Algerian journalist Ihsane El Kadi to five years in prison, of which two suspended, a fine of 700,000…