Amnesty International's Urgent Action Network by Jane Thurnell-Read

What can I do about all the torture and unplasantness that goes on in the world? It's easy to think 'not a lot', but you could, like me, get involved with the Urgent Action Network of Amnesty International, the human rights organisation. The Urgent Action scheme mobilises a worldwide network of members to email, write letters or fax messages to government and military officials in order to protect individuals whose lives or physical safety are in danger. The messages are about one specific person or a small group of people.

One group told Amnesty that unlike other prisoners held in similar circumstances, they were not tortured in police and gendarmerie custody. Security officers told them: “Amnesty International is making   a big fuss about you. We won’t do anything to you.”

I had put this off for many years, because I thought that I would find the gruesome details of cases just too distressing, but that hasn’t been the case.  I think Amnesty strikes the right balance - giving you enough information so you feel you want to write, but not too much that you can’t bear to read the case.

Scott Harrison, an Urgent Action veteran, explains this well:

“People who read UAs and write letters learn more about human rights abuses, of course. But I think many become more positive in their world view. Even knowing the horrible details of human rights violations, volunteers become engaged in changing things for the better. When you are active instead of passive, when you give voice to your beliefs in fairness and in certain standards of human decency, that is hopeful and enlivening.

You can sign up and receive emails or letters about cases. Urgent Action case-sheets contain details of the individual/s concerned, some information about the situation, recommendations of what to include in the appeal and how to word it, and contact details of government officials to whom appeals should be addressed. Alternatively, you can just log on to their site from time to time send a message about a case or two.

Here’s a heart-felt thank you from a woman who knows the benefit of Amnesty’s work:

“A big maternal thank you to all members of Amnesty International for extending a helping hand to an unknown woman and her son who are far away … for your help in saving the life of my son, which means you saved me as well.”

Knowing I spend about half an hour each month to help bring about results like this, helps me to feel good about myself and about life.