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! – Texas Governor Commutes Death Sentence (USA: UA 37.18)
On 22 February, the Governor of Texas commuted the death sentence of Thomas Whitaker hours before he was due to be executed. It was the first such act of clemency…
Urgent Action
Urgent Action: Young Human Rights Defenders at Risk of Torture (Iran: UA 45.18)
Young Iranian human rights defenders Shima Babaee, who is campaigning against compulsory veiling, and her husband Dariush Zand are at risk of torture and other ill-treatment. Both have been detained…
Urgent Action
Urgent Action Victory! – Prisoner Of Conscience Gets Medical Care (Venezuela: UA 274.17)
Prisoner of conscience Villca Fernández finally received medical care after having been denied urgently needed medical treatment since June 2017. Since 26 January 2018, prison authorities have transferred Villca Fernández…
Urgent Action
Urgent Action: 12 Assumed Transgender People Publicly Tortured (Indonesia: UA 36.18)
Individuals assumed to be transgender women by the North Aceh Police Force were arbitrary arrested, humiliated and tortured on 27 January. Although released without charge the next day, the individuals…
Urgent Action
Urgent Action Victory! – Convicted Environmental Activists Released (Cambodia: UA 279.17)
Two environmental activists and prisoners of conscience, convicted of and sentenced on trumped-up charges based on their peaceful activism, were released after serving five months out of their 1-year prison…
Urgent Action
Urgent Action: Oromo Civilians Killed, Wounded by the Military (Ethiopia: UA 40.18)
At least 22 members of the Ethiopian Oromo community have been killed or wounded by military officers in two separate incidents.
Urgent Action
Urgent Action: Pro-Democracy Activists Arbitrarily Detained (Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC): UA 39.18)
Pro-democracy activists Rachel Pilipili, Francois Kahombo Hangi, Justin Mutabesha, Benjamin Kamuntu and Parfait Muhani have been in arbitrary detention since 21 January. They have alleged that they were beaten in…
Urgent Action
Urgent Action Victory! Turkish Medical Association Leaders Released (Turkey: UA 16.18)
All 11 doctors who are members of the Turkish Medical Association’s Central Council, detained on 30 January following the association’s statement calling for an end to Turkey’s military operation in…
Urgent Action
Urgent Action: Criminalization of Peaceful Protesters (Thailand: UA 33.18)
Peaceful protesters in Thailand are at risk of arrest and up to eight years’ imprisonment as authorities seek to silence calls for authorities not to delay promised elections.
Urgent Action
Urgent Action Update: New Threats Against Indigenous Community (Kenya: UA 6.18)
Kenyan authorities are forcibly evicting the Sengwer Indigenous community from their ancestral home, the Embobut forest. The evictions have been carried out by the authorities in violation of the Constitution,…
Urgent Action
Urgent Action: Activist Immediately Jailed After Forcible Return (Cambodia: UA 15.18)
Sam Sokha, a UNHCR recognised refugee, was arrested and detained by Cambodian authorities when forcibly returned from Thailand on 8 February. She had been convicted in absentia of “incitement” for…
Urgent Action
Urgent Action: Prisoner of Conscience Needs Urgent Treatment (Ethiopia: UA 27.18)
Ethiopian prisoner of conscience Bekele Gerba has been denied access to specialised medical treatment that he urgently needs. He has high blood pressure which is affecting his sight, leaving his…