Muhammad Asim Saddiqi 
The Australian government has proposed new sanctions against the Afghan Taliban administration to hold it accountable for serious crimes—a move supported by Human Rights Watch.
According to the government, amendments to the sanction’s laws targeting the Taliban for human rights violations are currently under consideration. These amendments would introduce specific criteria for Afghanistan and could impose travel restrictions through changes in the legislation.
Commenting on the proposal, the Australian Director of Human Rights Watch stated that the amendments represent an important step toward holding the Taliban accountable for its human rights abuses. The Taliban’s restrictions on women’s fundamental rights have escalated into crimes against humanity and gender-based violence.
The director further noted that UN human rights experts have characterized the Taliban’s systematic abuses against women as acts of gender discrimination. Taliban authorities have also curtailed civil liberties and have reportedly detained and tortured journalists and activists.
