One year ago on this day, Jina Mahsa Amini died because a few strands too many of her hair were exposed to the sunlight. These days, we are commemorating her and the hundreds of youngsters, women and men, who should have been part of Iran’s future – their hopes and their future were taken from them by the brutal force of the regime. In all provinces, people took to the streets to speak out for their right to lead a self-determined life. Their protest chants were heard far beyond Iran’s borders. The call “Jin, Jiyan, Azadî” is still resounding around the globe and has come to symbolise the courage of the women in Iran who refuse to be intimidated – no matter how brutal the repression they face.

Although the protests are no longer in the headlines, we will not abandon the people in Iran. We are putting their fate on the agenda – in Brussels, New York and Geneva. We and our EU partners are invoking sanctions on those who continue to trample on people’s rights and dignity in Iran. We have made sure that the United Nations will investigate these human rights violations, so that these cases are documented, and those responsible held to account. As heart-breaking as this may sound, we will not be able to change conditions in Iran from the outside. Nevertheless, we will not stop giving people there a voice.