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?
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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.
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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.
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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 Victory! Kurdish Activist In Critical Health Released (Syria: UA 151.17)
Syrian Kurdish opposition activist Suleiman Abdulmajid Oussou was released on 24 June. He had been detained by the Asayish forces since 23 May. Suleiman Abdulmajid Oussou was held in poor…
Urgent Action
Urgent Action: Hundreds At Imminent Risk Of Forced Eviction (Turkey: UA 158.17)
Hundreds of residents in neighbourhoods of the Sur district in Diyarbakır province, south eastern Turkey, are at imminent risk of forced eviction. For over a month now, their water and…
Urgent Action
Urgent Action: Romani Families Left Homeless, Others At Risk (Italy: UA 146.17)
Around 600 Romani individuals fear destruction of their homes in the informal settlement of Germagnano in Turin, northern Italy. At least 7 families were left homeless after being forcibly evicted…
Urgent Action
Urgent Action: Risk Of Excessive Force Against Protestors (Guatemala: UA 153.17)
People peacefully protesting against a mining project in Casillas, Guatemala, and by-standers were tear gassed and dispersed by riot police on 22 June. There are concerns of further excessive use…
Urgent Action
Urgent Action: Human Rights Defender Charged With Obstruction (Malaysia: UA 152.17)
Human rights defender and lawyer Siti Kasim has been charged with “obstruction” in connection with a raid on a transgender event held in April 2016. She could face up to…
Urgent Action
Urgent Action: Yemeni Academic Held Incommunicado For 57 Days (Yemen: UA 150.17)
Professor and political figure Mustafa al-Mutawakel has been held incommunicado by the internationally recognized Yemeni government forces in an unknown location for almost two months. He is in urgent need…
Urgent Action
Urgent Action Update: Urge Congress To Decriminalize Abortion (Dominican Republic: UA 151.16)
In May 2017, the Dominican Senate voted to reject the President’s recommendations to decriminalize abortion. The President’s recommendations are now being discussed by the Justice Commission of the Chamber of…
Urgent Action
Urgent Action Update: Imprisoned Iranian Activist Must Be Released (Iran: UA 222.15)
Iranian human rights defender Omid Alishenas has been detained in Tehran’s Evin prison in poor conditions for more than six months. He is serving a seven-year prison sentence for his…
Urgent Action
Urgent Action Update: Detained Rohingya Child Dies In Custody (Myanmar: UA 10.17)
The confirmed death in custody of a child detained in November 2016 in northern Rakhine State as part of “clearance operations” increases fears for the safety of hundreds of detained…
Urgent Action
Urgent Action: Death Threat For Human Rights Lawyer And Family (Viet Nam: UA 149.17)
Human rights lawyer Lê Quốc Quân has received warnings from Việt Nam’s Ministry of Public Security officials that he and his family could be killed if he meets with visiting…
Urgent Action
Urgent Action: Minority Rights Journalist Attacked And Injured (Pakistan: UA 147.17)
Pakistani minority rights journalist Rana Tanweer faced an assassination attempt on 9 June. He was attacked in a hit and run accident and fractured his leg. Days before, his home…
Urgent Action
Urgent Action Victory! Opposition Politician Released (Maldives: UA 143.17)
Opposition politician Adam Azim has been released after spending nearly a week in detention in Maldives. He was arrested and faced trumped up charges after criticizing the government in a…