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?
![](https://www.amnestyusa.org/wp-content/themes/thinkwp-aiusa/assets/images/default-image.png)
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.
![](https://www.amnestyusa.org/wp-content/themes/thinkwp-aiusa/assets/images/default-image.png)
![](https://www.amnestyusa.org/wp-content/themes/thinkwp-aiusa/assets/images/default-image.png)
![](https://www.amnestyusa.org/wp-content/themes/thinkwp-aiusa/assets/images/default-image.png)
![](https://www.amnestyusa.org/wp-content/themes/thinkwp-aiusa/assets/images/default-image.png)
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.
![](https://www.amnestyusa.org/wp-content/themes/thinkwp-aiusa/assets/images/default-image.png)
![](https://www.amnestyusa.org/wp-content/themes/thinkwp-aiusa/assets/images/default-image.png)
![](https://www.amnestyusa.org/wp-content/themes/thinkwp-aiusa/assets/images/default-image.png)
![](https://www.amnestyusa.org/wp-content/themes/thinkwp-aiusa/assets/images/default-image.png)
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: METU PRIDE MUST BE ALLOWED TO PROCEED (Turkey: UA 52.22)
On June 7, 2022, the rectorship of the Ankara based Middle East Technical University (METU) sent an email to all students, declaring the campus-based Pride march on June 10, 2022…
Urgent Action
Urgent Action: PROTECT ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENDERS AT RISK (Colombia: UA 50.22)
On May 31, 2022, four environmental defenders from the organization Federation of Santander Fishers for Tourism and Environment (FEDEPESAN) were victims of an attack with firearms by unknown people while…
Urgent Action
Urgent Action: MALDIVIAN ACTIVIST FACES JAIL FOR BLASPHEMY (Maldives: UA 51.22)
Mohamed Rusthum Mujuthaba, 39, a Maldivian religious freedom and human rights activist, faces five months in prison, if convicted, on charges of blasphemy. Accused of posting blasphemous contents on social…
Urgent Action
Urgent Action: PRISONERS OF CONSCIENCE FACE TRIAL (Cuba: 49.22)
The trials of Manuel Otero Alcántara and Maykel Castillo Pérez, prisoners of conscience, are set to start on May 30 and May 31, 2022, respectively, in Cuba. Otero Alcántara and…
Urgent Action
Urgent Action Update: RELEASE JOURNALISTS AT RISK OF EXECUTION (Yemen: UA 27.16)
On May 29, 2022, the appeal session for four Yemeni journalists sentenced to death, namely, Akram al-Walidi, Abdelkhaleq Amran, Hareth Hamid, and Tawfiq al-Mansouri, will take place before the Huthi-run…
Urgent Action
Urgent Action: GOVERNMENT WITNESSES RETRACT TESTIMONY (Philippines: UA 48.22)
Three witnesses against prisoner of conscience Senator Leila de Lima have retracted their testimonies against her. They include a former government official who remains a prosecution witness and whose testimony…
Urgent Action
Urgent Action: HALT IMMINENT EXECUTION OF TWO BAHRAINI MEN (Saudi Arabia: UA 46.22)
Jaafar Mohammad Sultan and Sadeq Majeed Thamer, two Bahraini Shi’a men, are at imminent risk of execution in Saudi Arabia. The Specialized Criminal Court sentenced them to death in October…
Urgent Action
Urgent Action: VENEZUELAN DEFENDERS FACE CRIMINALIZATION (Venezuela: UA 47.22)
On May 16, 2022, recognized Venezuelan human rights defenders Marino Alvarado and Alfredo Infante received notification of a defamation lawsuit filed against them by the governor of Carabobo state, Rafael…
Urgent Action
Urgent Action: VENEZUELAN PHOTOGRAPHER ARBITRARILY DETAINED (Venezuela: UA 45.22)
Carlos Debiais, a Venezuelan photographer, was detained on November 12, 2021 and has been arbitrarily held in Caracas since April 12, 2022, when a release warrant was issued in his…
Urgent Action
Urgent Action Update: LIFE OF JAILED AND BEATEN ACTIVIST AT RISK (Egypt: UA 132.19)
Dual Egyptian-British national activist Alaa Abdel Fattah has been on hunger-strike since April 2, 2022, in protest of his unjust imprisonment, cruel detention conditions and denial of consular visits. In…
Urgent Action
Urgent Action: QUASH WHISTLEBLOWER’S DEATH SENTENCE (Algeria: UA 43.22)
Mohamed Benhlima is an activist, former military official and whistle-blower who exposed the corruption of high-ranking Algerian military officials online. He sought asylum in Spain but the Spanish authorities refouled…
Urgent Action
Urgent Action: CHARGE OR RELEASE STUDENT MOHAMED IMRAN (Sri Lanka: UA 42.22)
Mohamed Imaam Mohamed Imran was 20 years old when he was detained, on May 9, 2019, under the draconian Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA). Three years after his arrest, the…