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: Politicians and Journalists Detained (Ethiopia: UA 51.20)
On 7 March, politicians Batir Filae, Gada Gabisa, Bilisuma Ararsa and Oromo News Network (ONN) journalists Desu Dula and Wago Nole were arrested near Burayu, central Ethiopia, immediately after visiting…
Urgent Action
Urgent Action: Harassment of Activist and Family Must Stop (Azerbaijan: UA 52.20)
Azerbaijani human rights activist and former prisoner of conscience Ilkin Rustamzade and his family have been facing threats and harassment since Ilkin Rustamzade launched a petition asking the government to…
Urgent Action
Urgent Action Victory! Russian Jehovah’s Witness Released (Belarus: UA 47.20)
On 7 April the Prosecutor General’s office in Belarus denied Russia’s request to extradite Jehovah’s Witness Nikolai Makhalichev. Nikolai Makhalichev is facing unfounded charges of ‘extremism’ in Russia, stemming solely…
Urgent Action
Urgent Action Update: Prisoners Across Pakistan at Risk of COVID-19 (Pakistan: UA 39.20)
An inmate at Camp Jail, with a prison population of 3,500 people, in the provincial capital Lahore tested positive for coronavirus before being transferred to a medical facility. However, even…
Urgent Action
Urgent Action: Opposition Leader in Need of Medical Care (Cote d’Ivoire: UA 46.20)
Alain Lobognon, a member of parliament of Cote d’Ivoire and founding member of the political party Generations and People in Solidarity (GPS), is being detained in Agboville Prison, in south-eastern…
Urgent Action
Urgent Action: Young Prisoners’ Health at Growing Risk (Belarus: UA 44.20)
Vladislav Sharkovsky and Emil Ostrovko were imprisoned in 2018, both at the age of 17, for a minor, non-violent drug offense. Like many young people in Belarus, they should not…
Urgent Action
Urgent Action Victory! Journalist Given Suspended Sentence (Niger: UA 32.20)
On 26 March, journalist Mamane Kaka Touda was released after being detained for three weeks in Niamey Prison, Niger, for publishing a post on social media regarding a suspected case…
Urgent Action
Urgent Action Update: Supreme Court Confirms Verdict in an Unfair Trial (United Arab Emirates: UA 38.19)
On 17 February 2020, the Federal Supreme Court in Abu Dhabi confirmed the verdict against five Lebanese men including Abdel Rahman Talal Chouman, who was sentenced to life imprisonment, as…
Urgent Action
Urgent Action Update: Journalist at Risk of Arrest (Nigeria: UA 153.18)
Samuel Ogundipe, a journalist with Premium Times, an investigative newspaper in Nigeria, is currently in hiding. He is being hounded by officials of Nigeria’s Department of State Security (DSS) for…
Urgent Action
Urgent Action Update: Prisoners Released Having Served Sentences (Bahrain: UA 23.19)
On 5 March 2020, prisoner of conscience, Hajer Mansoor Hassan, was released from Isa Town Detention Centre for Women in Bahrain, having served her full three-year sentence after a grossly…
Urgent Action
Urgent Action Victory! Transgender Activist Released (Egypt: UA 43.19)
On 15 July 2019, State Security Prosecution ordered the release of 19-year-old transgender woman human rights defender Malak al-Kashef after more than 120 days in pre-trial detention since her arrest.…
Urgent Action
Urgent Action Victory! Musician Released on Probation (Egypt: UA 27.19)
On 13 May 2019, 33-year-old musician Rami Sidky was released on probation after 374 days of pre-trial detention. Rami was detained on 5 May 2018 in connection with a song…