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: Pakistani Activist’s Whereabouts Unknown (Pakistan: UA 269.17)
Raza Khan, a Pakistani peace activist, has not been seen or heard from since 2 December and may have been…
December 7, 2017
Urgent Action
Urgent Action: Former Journalists Charged With Espionage (Cambodia: UA 266.17)
Two former journalists for US-based Radio Free Asia in Cambodia were detained in the capital, Phnom Penh in November 2017…
December 7, 2017
Urgent Action
Urgent Action: Leader of Peace Community Threatened (Colombia: UA 263.17)
Paramilitary groups continue their incursions and threats against the people of the Peace Community of San José de Apartadó, Colombia,…
December 6, 2017
Urgent Action
Urgent Victory! Human Rights Defender Acquitted Of All Charges (Zimbabwe: UA 169.16)
Pastor Evan Mawarire, a human rights defender in Zimbabwe, was acquitted of the charge of ‘subversion of constitutional elected government’…
December 6, 2017
Urgent Action
Urgent Action Update: Confined Communities In Riosucio, Chocó (Colombia: UA 178.17)
Several Embera Indigenous communities and the Afro-descendent community of Taparal in the department of Chocó, Colombia, find themselves confined and…
December 6, 2017
Urgent Action
Urgent Action: Papuan Worker Disappeared Since 7 November (Indonesia: UA 262.17)
Martinus Beanal, a Papuan worker has disappeared since 7 November in the midst of alleged escalated armed clashes in Utikini…
December 5, 2017
Urgent Action
Urgent Action Update: New Convictions For “Inciting Debauchery” (Egypt: UA 231.17)
16 individuals sentenced to three years in prison and three years’ probation for “debauchery”, raising the total number of individuals…
December 5, 2017
Urgent Action
Urgent Action Update: Detained Rights Lawyer Further Ill-Treated (China: UA 227.17)
Sixty-year-old human rights lawyer Li Yuhan reported to her lawyer that she was left unconscious and unattended for hours after…
December 5, 2017
Urgent Action
Urgent Action: Authorities Block March, Charge Participants (Thailand: UA 260.17)
16 individuals were arrested during a march to deliver a petition to the Thai Prime Minister to request the shelving…
December 4, 2017
Urgent Action
Urgent Action: Seven Killed During Joint Security Operation (Brazil: UA 259.17)
Seven men were killed during a joint security operation of the Civil Police and the Army in São Gonçalo, Rio…
November 30, 2017
Urgent Action
Urgent Action: Activist Faces Seven Charges For Peaceful Protest (Singapore: UA 258.17)
Singapore activist Jolovan Wham is facing seven charges for organizing several peaceful assemblies over a one year period, including a…
November 29, 2017
Urgent Action
Urgent Action Victory! Investigations Into Human Rights Defender Closed (Malaysia: UA 263.16)
The Malaysian police have officially closed all investigations into Maria Chin Abdullah, who was detained under security laws for organizing…
November 27, 2017