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: Authorities Block March, Charge Participants (Thailand: UA 260.17)
16 individuals were arrested during a march to deliver a petition to the Thai Prime Minister to request the shelving of plans for a coal-fired power plant and may face…
Urgent Action
Urgent Action: Seven Killed During Joint Security Operation (Brazil: UA 259.17)
Seven men were killed during a joint security operation of the Civil Police and the Army in São Gonçalo, Rio de Janeiro State. The case is not being investigated, and…
Urgent Action
Urgent Action: Activist Faces Seven Charges For Peaceful Protest (Singapore: UA 258.17)
Singapore activist Jolovan Wham is facing seven charges for organizing several peaceful assemblies over a one year period, including a vigil protesting the execution of Malaysian national Prabagaran Srivijayan in…
Urgent Action
Urgent Action Victory! Investigations Into Human Rights Defender Closed (Malaysia: UA 263.16)
The Malaysian police have officially closed all investigations into Maria Chin Abdullah, who was detained under security laws for organizing a rally on free and fair elections. Placed in solitary…
Urgent Action
Urgent Action: Border Officials Forcibly Separate Families (USA: UA 256.17)
US border agency officials forcibly separated four Central American asylum-seeking fathers from their children after their arrival to the US, in violation of US standards on family unity during immigration…
Urgent Action
Urgent Action Update: Refugees Forcibly Removed From Detention Center (Australia: UA 184.17)
There are ongoing concerns for hundreds of refugees as authorities forcibly relocated men from the Lombrum detention centre on 23 November, three weeks after all essential services were shut down.…
Urgent Action
Urgent Action Update: Execution Called Off In Death Chamber (USA: UA 247.17)
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 Update: Santiago Maldonado Found Dead (Argentina: UA 191.17)
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. For more information about…
Urgent Action
Urgent Action Victory! Crimean Tatar Leaders Released (Ukraine: UA 205.16)
Crimean Tatar leaders Ilmi Umerov and Akhtem Chiygoz, both sentenced to prison by the de facto authorities in Russian-occupied Crimea, were taken to an airport and flown to Turkey on…
Urgent Action
Urgent Action Update: Unlawful Execution Of Mexican National In USA (USA: UA 239.17)
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. For more information about…
Urgent Action
Urgent Action Update: Florida Carries Out Its Third Execution of 2017 (USA: UA 214.17)
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. For more information about…
Urgent Action
Urgent Action: Journalist Facing Charges For Exposé Book (Poland: UA 196.17)
Investigative journalist Tomasz PiÄ…tek is facing criminal charges for a book he published in June, alleging a link between the Defence Minister and the Russian intelligence services. If found guilty…