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: Prisoners at Risk of Covid-19 Infection (Iran: UA 40.20)
The Iranian authorities must immediately and unconditionally release hundreds of prisoners of conscience amid grave fears over the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19) in Iran’s prisons. The authorities should take measures…
Urgent Action
Urgent Action: Artist Opposing Censorship at Risk (Cuba: UA 33.20)
Cuban authorities imprisoned artist Luis Manuel Otero Alcántara for 13 days for opposing a dystopian law which stands to censor artists. He was a prisoner of conscience. Now released and…
Urgent Action
Urgent Action Victory! 16 Activists Released; 61 People Remain in Prison (Nicaragua: UA 82.19)
Activists known as “Aguadores” were released on 30 December but still face charges. Their trial was scheduled for 30 January but got postponed and has yet to take place. As…
Urgent Action
Urgent Action: Cambodian Forest Defenders Under Threat (Cambodia: UA 31.20)
Cambodia’s Prey Lang rainforest – one of Southeast Asia’s most important ecosystems – is under threat. In recent weeks, Prey Lang’s defenders have been threatened, arrested, and attacked. The harassment…
Urgent Action
Urgent Action: Pro-Democracy Activists Detained (Guinea: UA 29.20)
Guinean pro-democracy activists Sékou Koundono and Ibrahima Diallo were released on 13 March, but they still face charges, and both remain under judicial supervision. Amnesty International believes the charges against…
Urgent Action
Urgent Action Victory! Yulia Tsvetkova Released from House Arrest (Russian Federation: UA 6.20)
The Komsomolsk-on-Amur District Court ruled to release women rights and LGBT rights activist Yulia Tsvetkova from house arrest on 16 March. She remains under travel restrictions, and criminal and administrative…
Urgent Action
Urgent Action Victory! Activist Released on Bail (Senegal: UA 171.19)
Senegalese activist Guy Marius Sagna was released on bail on 3 March, three months after he was first detained and after two requests for the provisional release were denied. The…
Urgent Action
Urgent Action: Political Leader at Imminent Risk of Execution (Bangladesh: UA 35.20)
A senior leader of Bangladesh’s opposition party, ATM Azharul Islam, is at imminent risk of execution following Bangladesh authorities’ issuance of a death warrant on 16 March 2020. Convicted and…
Urgent Action
Urgent Action: Lawyer on Trial at a Military Court (Tunisia: UA 27.20)
Human rights lawyer Najet Laabidi faces trial before a military court on charges of “insulting a public official while performing their duty”. She risks up to two years in prison.…
Urgent Action
Urgent Action Update: Journalists Sentenced to Imprisonment (Burundi: UA 149.19)
On 30 January, the Bubanza Tribunal in northern Burundi sentenced journalists Agnès Ndirubusa, Christine Kamikazi, Egide Harerimana and Térence Mpozenzi to two years and six months in prison. The initial…
Urgent Action
Urgent Action Update: 59 Protesters Officially Charged (Angola: UA 18.19)
Sixty-three protesters were arrested in January and February 2019 for their involvement in a peaceful protest. On 5 February 2020, 59 protesters were formally charged with “criminal association”, “rebellion”, “insult…
Urgent Action
Urgent Action Update: Trial Against Students and Academic Continues (Turkey: UA 144.19)
The next hearing in the trial against 18 students and one academic from Middle East Technical University (METU) will take place on 12 March in Ankara. They are facing criminal…