Australia proposes new sanctions targeting the Taliban for grave women’s rights abuses
Tawazon – The Australian government’s proposed amendments to its sanctions regulations are an important step toward accountability for Taliban officials and others responsible for serious abuses in Afghanistan, Human Rights Watch said in a report.
According to a recent Human Rights Watch submission to the Australian government, the proposed reforms mark a significant step toward increasing pressure on Taliban authorities and other individuals responsible for serious human rights abuses in Afghanistan.
Heather Barr, Associate Director of the Women’s Rights Division at Human Rights Watch, wrote on X today that the updated sanctions framework enables Australia to join other countries alraedy taking measures against the Taliban’s widespread and systematic abuses. She said the revised rules now allow targeted action against human rights violators and help ensure accountability.
The updated regulations introduce new criteria specifically tailored to Afghanistan’s current situation. Under the new framework, the Australian government can impose targeted sanctions and travel bans on individuals who participate in, are responsible for, or assist in the repression of women, girls, minorities, or other forms of persecution.The reforms also allow sanctions against those who undermine good governance and the rule of law in Afghanistan.
“It’s crucial for the Australian government to take action against Taliban leaders responsible for the assault on women and girls’ rights and other egregious abuses in Afghanistan,” said Daniela Gavshon, Australia director at Human Rights Watch. “The amended sanctions regulations will allow Australia to join with other countries already taking steps to oppose the Taliban’s widespread and systematic oppression.”
Human Rights Watch reminded that since taking power in August 2021, the Taliban have deepened their attack on the rights of women and girls, which amounts to the crime against humanity of gender persecution. UN human rights experts and Afghan women’s rights activists have described the Taliban’s systematic and structural violations on women and girls as “gender apartheid.”
The report also notes that the Taliban have severely restricted civic space, imposed harsh censorship and arrested and tortured numerous journalists and activists.
“The Australian government should use targeted sanctions as an important foreign policy tool against the Taliban to press for accountability for serious abuses,” Gavshon concluded. “Imposing sanctions on abusive leaders is one of several measures that can raise the cost of committing human rights violations in Afghanistan and elsewhere.”
