Two years after the death of Jina Mahsa Amini and the echo of justice in Latin America

At CEJIL, we recognize that state repression and human rights violations are not isolated phenomena in any one region. The struggle of women in Iran deeply resonates in Latin America, where we also face challenges related to the silencing of voices inconvenient for those in power, gender-based violence, and impunity in the face of systematic human rights violations. We reaffirm our commitment to defending women’s rights worldwide and call for global solidarity to demand equality, truth, justice, and reparations for Jina Mahsa Amini and the victims of severe human rights violations during acts of solidarity and protest.

Today marks two years since the death of Jina Mahsa Amini, the 22-year-old Iranian woman who died after being detained by the “morality police” in Iran, accused of failing to comply with strict hijab regulations. Her death, in September 2022, sparked a wave of national protests and generated widespread international solidarity.

In 2023 and 2024, the Iranian state responded repressively to the protests, with particular severity against women, girls, and members of ethnic or religious minorities. In this context, the Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on the Islamic Republic of Iran (MIIIRII or International Mission) produced the report titled They Have Dehumanized Us, with the primary goal of thoroughly investigating the human rights violations that occurred during the protests that began in September 2022. On the anniversary of Amini’s death, the Mission issued an update on the situation of women and girls in the context of the protests and the Woman, Life, Freedom movement.

“The history of Latin America shows that profound changes can be made to reverse the legacy of repressive and discriminatory practices. Today, in honor of Jina Mahsa Amini’s legacy, I ask that we extend our solidarity to our Iranian sisters and to the victims of severe human rights violations for exercising their freedom of expression and protest,” said Viviana Krsticevic, Executive Director of CEJIL.