Changing lives and policies
We free people from prison who are being held unjustly because of who they are or what they believe. We change laws to protect millions of people’s human rights. We transform societies to be more fair, free, and just.
Featured Victory
Marilin* (31) and Yunior* (11), have been released! Before the family’s release this week, Marilin faced an anniversary no parent would want: one year of lockup with her child simply for seeking safety here in the United States.
Marilin and Yunior were featured in our family detention campaign surge – several weeks of sustained actions, from grassroots activism to billboards, to drive attention to the dozens of families who are invisible behind detention walls in Pennsylvania and Texas. We want them and the government to know they’re not forgotten, and that we are working to free them all.
Thank you all for your continuing support and activism on these case campaigns. Our collective action shines a bright light on these families and the unlawful detention of them and so many more people detained in immigration facilities, and helps push the needle for their release.
Browse Victories
Victory
Urgent Action Victory! Abortion Decriminalized in Chile (Chile: UA 161.17)
Chile’s Constitutional Tribunal has ruled in favour of decriminalizing abortion under three specific circumstances. This is an important step toward…
August 22, 2017
Victory
Urgent Action Victory! Palestinian University Professor Released (Israel/OPT:UA 140.17)
University professor Ahmad Qatamesh was released from administrative detention by the Israeli authorities on 13 August. His three month detention order…
August 22, 2017
Victory
Urgent Action Victory! Journalists Out Of Immediate Danger (Paraguay: UA 154.17)
Menchi Barriocanal and Oscar Acosta, Paraguayan journalists and married couple who were threatened with imprisonment by President Horacio Cartes, have…
August 21, 2017
Victory
Urgent Action Victory! Four Families Ordered Released From Detention (USA: UA 59.17)
On 17 August, four-year-old Carlos and 16-year-old Michael along with their mothers, Lorena and Maribel (all names changed to protect…
August 18, 2017
Victory
Urgent Action Victory! Pastor Released After Over Two Years Of Detention (North Korea: UA 139.17)
Lim Hyeon-soo, a 62 year old Canadian pastor, has been released from a North Korean labour camp after spending more…
August 10, 2017
Victory
Urgent Action Victory! Russia Drops Case Against Rights Defender (Russian Federation: UA 121.16)
The criminal case against prominent Russian human rights defender Valentina Cherevatenko for “violation of ‘foreign agents’ law” was closed on…
August 8, 2017
Victory
Urgent Action Victory! Harassed Priest Granted Fellowship Abroad (Sri Lanka: UA 116.17)
Since being summoned for questioning by the Sri Lankan police for hosting a memorial for the war dead, Father Elil…
August 8, 2017
Victory
Urgent Action Victory! Syrian-Kurdish Opposition Activist Released (Syria: UA 123.17)
Syrian-Kurdish opposition activist Mohsen Taher was released from Allaya prison in Qamishli, north-eastern Syria, on 29 July. He had been…
August 3, 2017
Victory
Urgent Action Victory! Egyptian Prisoner Of Conscience Released (Egypt: UA 176.17)
Human rights defender Tarek Hussein was released on 27 July. After being arbitrarily detained for 40 days, the former prisoner…
August 2, 2017
Victory
Urgent Action Victory! All 28 Men Suspected Of Being Gay Released (Bangladesh: UA 112.17)
The five remaining men still being held on bail, of the 28 who were arrested at a social event outside…
August 2, 2017
Victory
Urgent Action Victory! Professor Released After 47 Days Of Abduction (Libya: UA 109.17)
University professor Dr. Salem Mohamed Beitelmal was released on 6 June. He had been abducted by local militias on the…
July 27, 2017
Victory
Urgent Action Victory! Activist And His Lawyer Released Without Charge (Democratic Republic Of Congo: UA 162.17)
Jean-Marie Kalonji, an activist with the youth movement Quatrieme voie/ il est temps, and his colleague and lawyer Sylva Mbikayi…
July 20, 2017