The Australian Government has a moral obligation to support people from Afghanistan: Afghanistan-Australian Advocacy Network
Over 9,000 academics, community leaders, human rights advocates, lawyers, doctors, and civil society representatives have signed an open letter, led by the Afghanistan-Australian Advocacy Network, to urgently call on Australian Prime Minister, Scott Morrison, to take concrete steps to support people from Afghanistan.
The call comes after the withdrawal of international forces commenced and the Taliban appear to be on the verge of a full military takeover. Almost twenty years ago Australia was one of the first nations to join the US-led intervention in Afghanistan that removed the Taliban. There are now serious fears about the fate of Afghan people who have already suffered war, injustice and ongoing trauma, and are now facing an imminent humanitarian crisis with the violent Taliban takeover of Afghanistan.
Shabnam Safa, Chair at the National Refugee-led Advisory and Advocacy Group (NRAAG):
“Australia has an ethical and moral obligation to help the people of Afghanistan and we must act now. Granting permanent protection to Afghan refugees who have lived nearly a decade in uncertainty, barred from building a future and livelihood, separated from their families and now with no prospects of returning home is the least we can do.
“We must join in the efforts by other countries like Canada and the UK to help those fleeing and immediately bring them to safety here. These are extraordinary times and we must take extraordinary measures. We have done it before for the people of Syria, we can do it again.”
Arif Hussein, Human Rights Lawyer, RACS:
“After almost two decades of intervention and promises to the Afghan people, that included protection for persecuted groups, women, democratic freedoms and rule of law our government cannot absolve itself of responsibility for the developing crisis in Afghanistan so easily.
“Australia could today be the lifeline to the Afghan community it promised to be 20 years ago.
“Right now Australia can commit to an increased one-off humanitarian intake of the most vulnerable Afghans, especially minority groups such as the Hazaras and women and children, grant permanent protection to all refugees from Afghanistan in Australia right now, and expedite family reunification applications of Afghans living in Australia.”
Kobra Moradi, Contributor to the International Criminal Law Review:
“With the return of the Taliban to power, the progress made on women's and girls’ rights in the last 20 years is rapidly declining. To gain international legitimacy, the Taliban stated that women and girls will be afforded rights and can study and work, but “within the limits of Islam”. The devil is in the details (or lack thereof), as it remains vague what this caveat means.
“Under their rule in 1996-2001, women were excluded from the public and denied any rights under their interpretation of Sharia law. Recent reports of the Taliban closing schools, forcing girls into marriage with their fighters, and compelling women to leave their jobs raise further uncertainty about the future of women and girls’ rights in Afghanistan.”
Afghanistan-Australian Advocacy Network call for Prime Minister Scott Morrison to help at-risk groups and to ease the suffering of the Afghan people by:
Committing to an additional humanitarian intake of at least 20,000 prioritising the most vulnerable persecuted Afghans, identified above, similar to Canada’s announcement on 14 August 2021 accepting 20,000 Afghan refugees, and similar to Australia’s response to the Syrian conflict in 2015 in accepting 12,000 vulnerable Syrian refugees.
Expediting the resettlement of Afghan interpreters, guides and other personnel involved in Australia’s mission in Afghanistan.
Granting permanent protection to more than 5,100 Afghan refugees, predominantly from the historically persecuted Hazara ethnic groups, who are currently on temporary protection visas in Australia.
Granting amnesty to all Afghan nationals currently in Australia who fear returning to Afghanistan.
Prioritising the family reunification visas of Afghan-Australians, including those who are prevented from reuniting with their families due to a government ministerial directive that requires the Department of Home Affairs deprioritise family reunion of hundreds of Afghans in Australia.
Lifting the ban on resettlement of refugees to Australia through the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in Indonesia, a ban which has been in place since 2014. This ban continues to limit resettlement options for 10,000 Afghan refugees awaiting safety and protection.
After almost two decades of intervention and promises to the Afghan people, promises of protection for persecuted groups, women, democratic freedoms and rule of law, Prime Minister Scott Morrison has a moral obligation to act in response to the humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan.
Media contact:
Emma Davies (RACS)
emma.davies@racs.org.au