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: ECUADORIAN HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDER PABLO FAJARDO STIGMATIZED (Ecuador 47.23)
On April 26, 2023, in the Ecuadorian National Assembly, the Minister of Energy and Mines of Ecuador accused the lawyer of the Union of People Affected by Texaco (UDAPT), Pablo…
Urgent Action
Urgent Action: 14 PEOPLE SENTENCED TO DEATH IN RELATION TO PROTESTS (Iran UA 103.22)
At least 14 individuals are at grave risk of execution in Iran in connection with the nationwide protests, including for acts not involving “intentional killing”, in violation of Iran’s obligations…
Urgent Action
Urgent Action: MISSOURI’S THIRD EXECUTION OF YEAR IMMINENT (USA 46.23)
Michael Tisius is scheduled to be executed in Missouri, USA, on 6 June 2023. He was sentenced to death for two murders committed on 22 June 2000. Now 42 years…
Urgent Action
Urgent Action: ETHNIC KAZAKH ARTIST AT RISK OF TORTURE (China: UA 26.23)
Zhanargul Zhumatai, an ethnic Kazakh journalist and artist, was taken away from her mother’s house in Urumqi, Xinjiang on 10 February. The state security police detained her after she communicated…
Urgent Action
Urgent Action: FREE GAZA AID WORKER SENTENCED TO 12 YEARS (Israel/OPT UA: 45.23)
Share: On This Page TAKE ACTION: Please take action as-soon-as possible. This Urgent Action expires on June 20, 2023. Write a letter in your own words or using the sample…
Urgent Action
Urgent Action: PROTECT HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDER AT RISK (UA: 43.23 Colombia)
TAKE ACTION: Please take action as-soon-as possible. This Urgent Action expires on 14 June, 2023. Write a letter in your own words or using the sample below as a guide…
Urgent Action
Urgent Action: RELEASE JOURNALIST JAILED FOR CRITICAL VIEWS (UA: 13.23 Burundi)
On 30 March, the Court of Appeal of Mukaza in Bujumbura, Burundi held a hearing session on the case of Burundian journalist Floriane Irangabiye. She had appealed the 2 January…
Urgent Action
Urgent Action: SUSPENDED SENTENCE FOR ACTIVIST (UA: 31.23 Kazakhstan)
On 10 April, Zhanbolat Mamay, journalist and leader of the unregistered opposition Democratic Party of Kazakhstan was given a six-year suspended sentence for a peaceful protest on charges of insulting…
Urgent Action
Urgent Action: ACTIVIST JAILED FOR 25 YEARS FOR ANTI-WAR VIEWS (UA: Russian Federation: 40.23)
Vladimir Kara-Murza is a prominent Russian political activist and journalist. He was arrested in April 2022 and prosecuted for his criticism of the Russian aggression against Ukraine and for his…
Urgent Action
Urgent Action: MILLIONS OF SCHOOLGIRLS AT RISK OF POISONING (Iran UA 42.23)
The rights to education, health and life of millions of schoolgirls are at risk amid ongoing chemical gas attacks deliberately targeting girls’ schools in Iran. Since November 2022, thousands of…
Urgent Action
Urgent Action: URGENT HEALTHCARE NEEDED FOR JAILED ACTIVIST (Angola 34.23)
On 13 January, activist Tanaice Neutro was arrested in connection to videos he recorded where he called the president a ‘clown’ and the authorities ‘ignorant’. He was tried in October…
Urgent Action
Urgent Action Update: URGE CLEMENCY FOR NATIVE AMERICAN ACTIVIST (USA: UA 16.19-3)
Native American activist Leonard Peltier has been imprisoned in the USA for over 46 years, some of which was spent in solitary confinement, serving two life sentences for murder despite…