Urgent Action Network

Your letters can protect individuals from human rights violations.

When an individual is in immediate danger as a result of the violation of a basic human right, Amnesty International can launch an Urgent Action to protect them. The massive number of appeals from concerned people around the world pressures the authorities to right the wrong.

Typical Urgent Actions try to protect an individual from torture, unlawful arrest, “disappearance” in detention, denial of medical care, and both lawful and unlawful executions.

Amnesty's Urgent Action Network mobilizes letter writers quickly. You can read about the situation, follow the suggestions of what to write, and use the contact information to send your message to the appropriate authorities.

Letter-writing works! Read Amnesty Good News Stories See successes from our biggest letter-writing event Write for Rights The First Urgent Action It was four decades ago that an Amnesty International researcher, Tracy Ulltveit-Moe, created the technique. That first Urgent Action, issued for Brazilian professor Luiz Rossi who was being tortured, turned out to be successful. The last we've heard, Professor Rossi is still writing Urgent Action appeals for others at risk! To join and be contacted about Urgent Actions as they arise, send an e-mail to Marilyn McKim at urgentaction@amnesty.ca with "I want to join" in the subject line. There is no cost to sign up. Marilyn will contact you about your preferences. If you have any other questions about the Urgent Action Network, contact: Marilyn McKim Amnesty International Canada - Urgent Action Office urgentaction@amnesty.ca (416) 363-9933 extension #325 Take action on Amnesty's most Urgent Actions The power to protect people is in your pen – or keyboard! SEE OUR LATEST URGENT ACTIONS DOWNLOAD OUR MOBILE APP FOLLOW US ON TWITTER Tweets by AmnestyUA