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.
Browse Urgent Actions
Urgent Action
Urgent Action: Papuan Prisoner of Conscience Denied Parole (Indonesia: UA 199.17)
Political activist, Oktovianus Warnares was convicted of “rebellion” (makar) in 2013 after peacefully commemorating the 50th anniversary of the handover of Papua to the Indonesian government. He is a prisoner…
Urgent Action
Urgent Action Victory! Arkansas Governor To Commute Death Sentence (USA: UA 74.17)
On 25 August, the Governor of Arkansas announced his intent to commute the death sentence of Jason McGehee, who had been scheduled for execution on 27 April, when he received…
Urgent Action
Urgent Action Victory! Zambia Opposition Leader Released (Zambia: UA 90.17)
Leader of the United Party for National Development (UPND), Hakainde Hichilema and five others accused with him have been released. He, together with five others had been arrested in April…
Urgent Action
Urgent Action: Urban Artist At Risk In Cuba (Cuba: UA 189.17)
After being arbitrarily detained on 17 August, Yulier Perez, a graffiti artist known for painting dilapidated walls in Havana, is at risk of being imprisoned again, after months of intimidation…
Urgent Action
Urgent Action Victory! Six Activists Commemorating Liu Xiabo Released (China: UA 190.17)
Six activists who were criminally detained in July 2017, after taking part in a seaside memorial for Liu Xiaobo in Jiangmen, Guangdong province, have all been released on bail. While…
Urgent Action
Urgent Victory! Sudanese Doctor Released Without Charge (Sudan: UA 97.17)
Dr. Mohamed Yasin Abdalla, the chairperson of the Central Committee of Sudanese Doctors (CCSD), has been released without charge. He was arrested on 22 April in Khartoum by National Intelligence…
Urgent Action
Urgent Action Victory! Governor Stays Execution, Orders Inquiry (USA: UA 183.17)
On 22 August, the governor of Missouri issued a stay of execution for Marcellus Williams who was due to be put to death later that day. The governor will appoint…
Urgent Action
Urgent Action: Worrying Crackdown On Kenyan Defenders (Kenya: UA 198.17)
Kenya’s NGO Coordination Board threatened to arrest George Kegoro, Executive Director of Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC), Gladwell Otieno, Executive Director of African Center for Open Governance (AfriCOG) and Maina Kiai…
Urgent Action
Urgent Action: Missing Human Rights Defender At Risk Of Torture (Viet Nam: UA 197.17)
Former prisoner of conscience, Nguyễn Bắc Truyển was last seen on 30 July 2017 after dropping off his wife outside her place of work in Ho Chi Minh City, Viet…
Urgent Action
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 ensuring the protection of women and girls’ human rights across…
Urgent Action
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 was not renewed after it expired. He is now…
Urgent Action
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 stopped receiving threats and seem to be out of immediate…