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?
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.
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.
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.
Browse Urgent Actions
Urgent Action
Urgent Action: Homophobic Crackdown In Chechnya Resumes (Russian Federation: UA 2.19)
The Chechen authorities have unleashed a new wave of attacks on people believed to be gay or lesbian. At least 40 individuals have been arbitrarily detained and tortured in Chechnya,…
Urgent Action
Urgent Action Update: Indigenous Human Rights Defenders at Risk (Mexico: UA 63.10)
Armed men abducted Mexican Indigenous human rights defenders, Obtilia Eugenio Manuel (pictured below) and Hilario Cornelio Castro on 12 February 2019. Their captors released them on 16 February amidst an…
Urgent Action
Urgent Action Victory! Jordanian Journalist Released (United Arab Emirates: UA 112.16)
On 12 February 2019, Jordanian journalist and poet, Tayseer Salman al-Najjar was released from al-Wathba prison in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The UAE authorities…
Urgent Action
Urgent Action Victory! Released Bahraini Refugee Returns to Australia (Thailand: UA 206.18)
On 11 February 2019, Hakeem Ali al-Araibi was released from Bangkok’s remand prison after the Bahraini authorities dropped their extradition request. He flew back to Australia the same day. Hakeem…
Urgent Action
Urgent Action: Mother and Son Separated by Border Authorities (USA: UA 185.18)
In March, Valquiria and her seven-year-old son Abel* fled Brazil and requested asylum in the US after death threats from drug traffickers. US border authorities forcibly separated them and continue…
Urgent Action
Urgent Action Update: Pre-Trial Detention for Human Rights Defender (Egypt: UA 69.18)
On 9 February, a judge ordered the pre-trial detention of human rights defender and lawyer Ezzat Ghoniem for 45 days pending investigation. Ezzat Ghoniem and Azzoz Mahgoub were detained on…
Urgent Action
Urgent Action Update: Prisoner of Conscience Ill-Treated in Prison (China: UA 71.17)
Taiwanese activist Lee Ming-che has been given rotten food and insufficient clothing in his freezing prison cell. As a result of exposing these prison conditions, his wife is not allowed…
Urgent Action
Urgent Action Update: Over Two Thousand People Risk Forced Eviction (Kenya: UA 141.18)
The Deep Sea Community in Nairobi, Kenya is once again at imminent risk of forced evictions. On 1 February, the Deputy County Commissioner (DCC) of Westlands Subcounty informed residents of…
Urgent Action
Urgent Action Update: Sentenced to One Year in Prison for Posting FB Video (Indonesia: UA 165.18)
Agustinus Yolemal, a Papuan pro-independence activist was convicted for inciting hatred and hostility and sentenced to 1 year’s imprisonment by the Timika District Court in Papua Province on 14 January…
Urgent Action
Urgent Action: Bill Could Grant Amnesty for Grave Crimes (Guatemala: UA 12.19)
Guatemala’s Congress could imminently pass a law that would grant an amnesty to those suspected or found guilty of crimes such as genocide, torture, and enforced disappearances during the internal…
Urgent Action
Urgent Action: Woman Human Rights Defender Facing Threats Online (Mozambique: UA 10.19)
Woman human rights defender Fátima Mimbire has been receiving intimidating messages on social media from unknown people since 18 January. These threats began after she took up an active role…
Urgent Action
Urgent Action: TV Producer Held in North Korea for 50 Years (South Korea: UA 13.19)
Hwang Won, a former TV producer from South Korea, was not allowed to return to his home country after arriving involuntarily to North Korea on a hijacked plane on 11…