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 Update: Lawyer Released on Bail but Threat of Jail Remains (Russian Federation: UA 167.18)
Lawyer Mikhail Benyash, who had been detained since 9 September after meeting his client who had taken part in a peaceful protest against pension reforms in Krasnodar, Russia, was released…
Urgent Action
Urgent Action Victory! Palestinian NGO Worker Released (Israel/OPT: UA 226.17)
On 30 September, Salah Hammouri, French-Palestinian lawyer and NGO worker, was released from Ketziot prison in southern Israel. He had spent one year in administrative detention without charge or trial.
Urgent Action
Urgent Action Victory! Indigenous Community Granted Protection (Paraguay: UA 149.18)
Paraguayan authorities have called for an impartial and independent investigation into the attacks against Tekoha Sauce Indigenous leader Amada MartÃnez, and provided physical protection to the community. In addition, the…
Urgent Action
Urgent Action: Journalists and Activists Threatened (Mozambique: UA 186.18)
Local journalists and civil society activists have received anonymous death threats and intimidating phone calls and messages since 10 October. This began after their engagement in monitoring polling stations and…
Urgent Action
Urgent Action: Tennessee Man at Imminent Risk of Execution (USA: UA 183.18)
Edmund Zagorski has been on death row in Tennessee for over 30 years after allegedly receiving ineffective counsel. He was scheduled to be executed on 11 October, using a three-drug…
Urgent Action
Urgent Action: Several Indigenous Organizations Threatened (Colombia: UA 182.18)
The National Indigenous Organization of Colombia (ONIC) reported that several threatening pamphlets against indigenous organizations defending human rights were found on the streets and railroad tracks of the municipality of…
Urgent Action
Urgent Action Victory! Online Activist Released Without Charge (Sudan: UA 158.18)
Activist Ahmed Al-Dai Bushara Joudah was released without charge from Kober prison on 18 September. He had spent sixty-four days in detention.
Urgent Action
Urgent Action Update: US-Mexico Asylum Deal Appears Unlikely (Mexico: UA 150.18)
Share: On This Page We have received updated information regarding this case and require no further action from the Urgent Action Network. Thank you to all those who sent appeals.…
Urgent Action
Urgent Action: Councilman Dies in Custody of Intelligence Service (Venezuela: UA 181.18)
Fernando Albán, councilman for Primero Justicia, an opposition party in Venezuela, died while in custody of the Bolivarian National Intelligence Service (SEBIN) on Monday 8 October. His body fell from…
Urgent Action
Urgent Action: Environmental Defender’s Home Set on Fire (Ecuador: UA 179.18)
Environmental defender Margoth Escobar could be at risk after her home was intentionally set on fire in Puyo, in the Ecuadorian Amazon, on 29 September. This is the fourth attack…
Urgent Action
Urgent Action: Uighur Man Faces Forcible Return to China (UAE: UA 178.18)
Abudujilili Supi, a Uighur man who has been working as a muezzin – a leader and caller of prayers – in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, was taken away by Emirati…
Urgent Action
Urgent Action Update: Amal Fathy Sentenced for Her Peaceful Activism (Egypt: UA 98.18)
On 29 September, the Maadi Misdamenour court sentenced Amal Fathy to two years in prison and a fine of 10,000 EGP (560 USD). The bail to temporarily suspend her sentence…