How does it work

Researchers at Amnesty's headquarters compile an urgent action case sheet with details of the individuals concerned. This includes information about their situation, recommendations of what to include in the appeal and how to word it. It also has contact details of government officials. This case-sheet is rapidly sent to our national offices for immediate distribution to our network of supporters.

You may be mobilised in an effort to protect a prisoner from torture or any form of ill treatment, medical neglect, unfair trial, the judicial death penalty or extra judicial execution; or from repatriation where the forcible return to a person's country may lead to further human rights abuses.

An urgent action can be issued in cases showing a pattern or series of violations, where the urgent action focuses on protecting a specific social group (ethnic, religious, political or occupational).

Occasionally, an urgent action will be issued to ask you to appeal on behalf of a test case of human rights violations, which could have far-reaching implications to our work.