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 Victory! – Prisoner of Conscience Released (Bahrain: UA 142.15)
On 26 March, political activist and prisoner of conscience, Fadhel Abbas Mahdi Mohamed was released from Jaw prison, in the Bahraini capital, Manama. He served three years in prison on…
Urgent Action
Urgent Action Victory! – Women’s Rights Activists No Longer at Imminent Risk (Ukraine: UA 57.18)
Following the attacks that marred International Women’s Day in Ukraine on 8 March, Vitaliana Koval and other women’s and LGBTI rights defenders in Ukraine are no longer considered to be…
Urgent Action
Urgent Action Victory! Supreme Court Orders Journalist’s Release (Azerbaijan: UA 186.17)
On 5 April, Azerbaijan’s Supreme Court ordered the release of Aziz Orujov, an independent journalist and CEO of the internet TV channel Canal 13, on a suspended three-year sentence. The…
Urgent Action
Urgent Action Update: Human Rights Defenders Sentenced to 10 Years (Burundi: UA 31.18)
Human rights defenders Emmanuel Nshimirimana, Aimé Constant Gatore and Marius Nizigiyimana were sentenced to 10 years in prison on 8 March. They are members of the Burundian non-governmental organization Words…
Urgent Action
Urgent Action Update: Human Rights Defender Held in Pre-Trial Detention (Burundi: UA 257.17)
Burundian human rights defender Nestor Nibitanga has spent more than five months in pre-trial detention. He was arrested on 21 November 2017. Amnesty International believes the charges against him of…
Urgent Action
Urgent Action: Prisoner of Conscience’s Release Blocked (Venezuela: UA 81.18)
Gregory Hinds and Geraldine Chacón have been arbitrarily detained in custody of the Bolivarian National Intelligence Service (SEBIN) in Caracas, Venezuela, since 31 January and 1 February, respectively. Both were…
Urgent Action
Urgent Action: Palestinians at Risk of Losing Residency Status (Israel/OPT: UA 79.18)
Four members of the Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC), Muhammad Abu Teir, Ahmad Attoun, Muhammad Totah and Khaled Abu Arafeh, are at risk of losing their permanent residency status in Jerusalem…
Urgent Action
Urgent Action Update: Iranian Trade Unionist on Hunger Strike (Iran: UA 171.15)
Iranian trade unionist Esmail Abdi started a hunger strike on 24 April, to protest against the treatment of teachers and workers in Iran, on the one hand, and the denial…
Urgent Action
Urgent Action: Disappeared Human Rights Defender at Risk of Torture (Pakistan: UA 78.18)
Deedar Ali Shabrani, a journalist from Pakistan’s Sindh province, is believed to have been forcibly disappeared and may be at high risk of torture and death. No information about his…
Urgent Action
Urgent Action: State Repressing Demonstrators (Nicaragua: 80.18)
Nicaraguan authorities have responded violently to demonstrations taking place throughout the country by repressing protesters, and violating their rights to freedom of expression and assembly. At least 28 people have…
Urgent Action
Urgent Action: Over 2,000 Afghans at Risk of Deportation (Turkey: UA 77.18)
In recent weeks, Turkey has deported 7,100 Afghan citizens, and at least 2,000 more are detained and at risk of deportation. Detainees report being pressured to “accept” a return to…
Urgent Action
Urgent Action Victory! – Kachin Pastors Released in Prisoner Amnesty (Myanmar: UA 13.17)
Kachin pastors Dumdaw Nawng Lat and Langjaw Gam Seng have been released from prison following a Presidential amnesty on 17 April 2018. The two men had been detained since December…