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: Young Victim of Videoed Torture Still Missing (Russian Federation: UA 142.20)
On 5 September, 19-year-old Salman Tepsurkaev was abducted from the Krasnodar region in southern Russia. He had moderated 1ADAT, a popular Telegram channel critical of the Chechen authorities. Reports indicate…
Urgent Action
Urgent Action: Professor Sacked, Threatened (Bangladesh: UA 129.20)
Professor Md. Morshed Hasan Khan faces trumped-up sedition charges and has had his professorial position at Dhaka University terminated for publishing an opinion editorial in a national newspaper. Professor Morshed…
Urgent Action
Urgent Action Update: 10 Month Sentence for Yemeni LGBTI Rights Defender (Saudi Arabia: UA 110.20)
Yemeni LGBTI rights defender Mohamed al-Bokari who has been detained in Malaz Prison in Saudi Arabia’s capital Riyadh since 8 April 2020, attended his first trial session on 20 July.…
Urgent Action
Urgent Action Update: Early Release of Jehovah’s Witness Reverted (Russian Federation: UA 99.20)
On 4 September, the Kursk Regional Court quashed the decision of the Lgov District Court to release imprisoned Danish Jehovah’s Witness Dennis Christensen and sent the case back to the…
Urgent Action
Urgent Action Update: Detained Rights Lawyer Accused of Terrorism (Egypt: UA 131.19)
On 30 August 2020, the Supreme State Security Prosecution (SSSP) interrogated arbitrarily detained human rights lawyer and activist, Mahienour el-Masry, over charges of “joining a terrorist organisation” as part of…
Urgent Action
Urgent Action: Uyghur Jailed for Nine Years in Secret Trial (China: UA 135.20)
Maiwulani Nuermaimaiti, an internet technician, was sentenced to nine years in prison for “separatist activities” in August 2017. Taken away in January 2017, his family members only found out about…
Urgent Action
Urgent Action Victory! Pro-Democracy Activist Released (Guinea: UA 64.20)
Oumar Sylla (alias Foniké Mengué), who was in charge of the mobilization efforts of the opposition coalition group, Front for the Defense of the Constitution, was freed from Conakry prison,…
Urgent Action
Urgent Action Victory! Hospital Workers Have Been Paid (Guatemala: UA 95.20)
As of the beginning of August, payment was given to all 46 workers who had been fired from the Industrial Park Temporary Hospital in Guatemala City in June. They all…
Urgent Action
Urgent Action Update: Afro-Indigenous Activists Still Disappeared (Honduras: UA 123.20)
Five individuals wearing Police Investigations Directorate (DPI) vests took four Garífuna activists – Alberth Centeno Tomas, President of the Board of Triunfo de la Cruz on behalf of the Black…
Urgent Action
Urgent Action: Human Rights Activist Detained for a Third Time (Egypt: UA 139.20)
On 23 June 2020, the Egyptian security forces arrested human rights activist Sanaa Seif from outside the Public Prosecutor’s office in New Cairo, where she was waiting to file a…
Urgent Action
Urgent Action Victory! Incommunicado Detainee Released (Venezuela: UA 81.20)
Maury Carrero, detained arbitrarily in April 2020 by officers of the Directorate for Military Counterintelligence (DGCIM) in Caracas, was unconditionally released on 2 September as part of a group of…
Urgent Action
Urgent Action Update: Disappeared During Quarantine & Found Dead (Argentina: UA 120.20)
An independent forensic team positively identified the body of Facundo Astudillo Castro on 2 September 2020. His unidentified body was found on 16 August after going missing on 30 April…