The Australian government is moving to amend its sanctions regulations to enhance accountability for Taliban officials and others responsible for serious human rights abuses in Afghanistan, according to Human Rights Watch. The proposed changes to the Autonomous Sanctions Regulations will introduce criteria specific to Afghanistan, allowing Australia to impose targeted sanctions and travel bans on individuals and entities engaged in, responsible for, or complicit in the oppression of women, girls, minority groups, or the undermining of good governance and the rule of law.
Daniela Gavshon, Australia director at Human Rights Watch, emphasized the importance of these measures, noting that the amendments will enable Australia to act against Taliban leaders responsible for egregious violations, particularly assaults on women and girls’ rights. The move aligns Australia with other countries that are actively opposing the Taliban’s systematic oppression.
Since the Taliban’s takeover of Afghanistan in August 2021, the regime has intensified its attacks on women and girls, constituting gender persecution and what UN human rights experts and Afghan activists describe as “gender apartheid.” Beyond gender-based oppression, the Taliban have restricted civic space, implemented widespread censorship, and detained and tortured journalists and activists. Marginalized communities, including LGBTQ+ individuals and those who do not conform to strict gender norms, face severe threats under the Taliban regime.
The country also continues to experience violence from extremist groups such as ISIS, which has targeted ethnic Hazara Shia and other communities, causing widespread casualties. Human Rights Watch underscores that targeted sanctions can serve as a vital foreign policy tool, increasing the consequences for those committing human rights violations and promoting accountability for abuses in Afghanistan.
