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: Defender’s Body Found After 40 Days Missing (Mexico: UA 162.19)
Authorities found the body of Arnulfo Cerón Soriano, indigenous human rights defender, on 20 November in a clandestine grave near the city of Tlapa, Guerrero state in western Mexico. Arnulfo…
Urgent Action
Urgent Action Update: Two Missing Men “Found” In Police Detention (Turkey: UA 111.19)
The whereabouts of Gökhan Türkmen and Mustafa Yılmaz, who were missing for nine and eight months respectively, have been disclosed to their families by the Turkish authorities. Gökhan Türkmen was…
Urgent Action
Urgent Action Update: Referendum Called and State of Emergency Ended (Chile: UA 137.19)
On 15 November President Sebastián Piñera announced an agreement among all political parties to hold a referendum in 2020 about a new Constitution, which was part of the main demand…
Urgent Action
Urgent Action Victory! Hajar Raissouni Released (Morocco: UA 121.19)
On 16 October 2019, following a royal pardon, Hajar Raissouni, her fiancé, and the doctor were released from prison after being sentenced to one year in prison for trumped-up charges…
Urgent Action
Urgent Action Update: Withdrawal of Urgent Action (Bahrain: UA 110.19)
In light of new information, Amnesty no longer believes Osama Muhana al-Tamimi has been targeted or harassed by the government in 2019.
Urgent Action
Urgent Action: NGO Shut Down, Staff at Risk of Attack (Maldives: UA 155.19)
The Maldivian Democracy Network (MDN) was permanently shut down by the authorities on 5 November 2019 in response to their 2015 report “Preliminary Assessment of Radicalization in the Maldives” which…
Urgent Action
Urgent Action Victory! Execution Halted for Man with Innocence Claims (USA: UA 146.19)
On 15 November, the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals halted the execution of Rodney Reed and ordered the original trial court to consider new evidence in his case. The Texas…
Urgent Action
Urgent Action Update: Syrians Still Risk Deportation from Turkey (Turkey: UA 128.19)
Syrian refugees are still at risk of deportation from Turkey, and the Turkish authorities may implement plans to force large numbers of them to a so-called “safe zone” in northern…
Urgent Action
Urgent Action Victory! Activist and Medic Released (Iraq: UA 152.19)
On 13 November 2019, activist and medic Saba Mahdawi was released. Saba went missing after being abducted by an unknown group on 2 November 2019. Her family confirmed to Amnesty…
Urgent Action
Urgent Action: Kurdish Activists Arbitrarily Detained (Iran: UA 156.19)
Kurdish civil society activist Zahra Mohammadi, aged 29, has been arbitrarily detained since her arrest in Sanandaj, Kurdistan province, Iran, on 23 May 2019. She is charged with national security…
Urgent Action
Urgent Action Update: Kasymberdi Garaev Returned Home (Turkmenistan: UA 151.19)
Kasymberdi Garaev was summoned by police and went missing on 24 October after the publication of an online article in which he was cited describing the problems he faced as…
Urgent Action
Urgent Action Update: Detained Journalist Ends His Hunger Strike (Morocco: UA 140.19)
On 31 October 2019, detained journalist Rabie Lablak ended his 45 day-long hunger strike, which he started in protest of the alleged torture and ill-treatment he has suffered at the…