Students lead the call for Immigration Minister Alex Hawke to protect their peers in Afghanistan

700 Australian high-school student leaders have penned and signed an open letter calling on Immigration Minister Alex Hawke to protect school students like themselves, living under Taliban rule in Afghanistan. 

In the letter to the Minister the students urged the Australian Government to provide an additional 20,000 humanitarian places, giving safety to young people facing persecution, discrimination and violence.

Of the 665,000 people who have been newly displaced in Afghanistan in 2021, 80% are women and children. In August this year it was reported that, in a three-day period alone, at least 27 children were killed and 136 injured, amid fighting between the Taliban and government forces.

The student’s open letter highlights the lack of access to education for women and girls, the erosion of laws protecting them from violence and child marriage and the fear for students who may be forcibly recruited as child soldiers.

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has estimated that 97% of the people in Afghanistan will fall below the poverty line by mid-2022. More than 18 million of Afghanistan’s 39 million people were estimated to be in urgent need of humanitarian aid. More than 40% of the population in Afghanistan are children.

The Morrison Government has yet to offer an increase in humanitarian places for people from Afghanistan to seek safety in Australia. Instead of following the lead of countries like Canada, who are providing 40,000 places, the Australian Government is only providing 3,000 places as part of an existing intake, already cut from previous years. 

The students have raised their concerns with Australia’s lack of action, and called on the Government to do more.

Olivia Bortolussi, Year 11, Brigidine College, St Ives, 

“Attending a school of 1,000 girls, what really concerns me is seeing other girls denied their basic human rights of safety and education under Taliban rule in Afghanistan. It is both appalling and heartbreaking. I am determined to do what I can to help, which is why I joined a recent constituent meeting, organised by Jesuit Refugee Service, with my local MP, and why I signed this letter.” 

Rosie Vaughan, Year 11, Loreto Normanhurst, Normanhurst, 

“When I learned that girls are not getting an education in the 21st century, I was shocked.  And when I saw the opportunity to write a letter to try to change that, I instantly jumped on it. 

The Taliban’s view that women are subordinate to men and have no agency and that men have more power than women and men are smarter than women, that only men need to get an education is just wrong.”

Molly, Year 11, Stella Maris College, Manly  

“As a female Year 11 student, it saddens me deeply that there are girls my age living in Afghanistan who do not have access to the basic right of education. Being deprived of their right to education and basic rights alone is simply unjust and should not be disregarded. I hope that with your stature you can do more to help these poor disadvantaged girls seek freedom in Australia. Actions speak louder than words.”  

Katherine, Year 7, Stella Maris College, Manly

“There are many young girls in Afghanistan right now who are fighting for the right to education and freedom. I have made the decision to write to you [the Immigration Minister] about this matter because I want to be part of the movement to give them back their freedom and rights. These young women are fleeing their countries so that they can have the life they want, the life full of learning and choices they can make. I am aware that currently you are allowing three thousand people from Afghanistan to come to Australia and resettle, which is a considerably good start. But I think that, as a country, we can do more.”  

Isabelle, Year 8, Stella Maris College, Manly

“Without education you have no freedom. Without being able to use your voice you have no say in your life. In Australia, it is a right and a law that all children must go to school or have some sort of education. We are so fortunate. We can share that with people from Afghanistan and help them get equal education, health care and safety. We have the power to do that. We have the power to do that!”

Dorothy Hoddinott AO, former high school Principal, Presiding Pro-Chancellor, University of Sydney and Refugee Advice and Casework Service (RACS) Ambassador

“We need to listen to the voices of our young people, who are calling on the Government to allocate 20,000 additional special humanitarian places to refugees fleeing the oppression of the Taliban in Afghanistan. Our young people know what is right and what is fair. 

“Women and girls no longer have any rights under the Taliban. Girls can no longer attend high school or university. School-age boys are being forcibly recruited to become child soldiers. The future is being taken from the young people of Afghanistan. Our young people do not want that to happen. They know that Australia can do more to help. We must heed their call.”

The open letter is signed in solidarity with fellow students in Afghanistan

Media Contact: Sam Brennan - sam.b4@asrc.org.au