Amnesty International Australia has urged the government to expand humanitarian and resettlement opportunities for Afghans facing the greatest risks, including women and girls, human rights defenders and members of ethnic and religious minorities.
The call was made at a Canberra meeting on Tuesday, August 11, attended by Afghan civil society and human rights activists. Amnesty also urged Australia to support international efforts to hold Afghanistan’s authorities accountable for alleged serious human rights violations.
Afghan women’s rights activist Farkhondeh described the restrictions on women and girls as “gender apartheid,” while Zaki Haidari, an international strategic campaigner with Amnesty International Australia, called on Canberra to increase diplomatic pressure and support efforts to strengthen the rule of law in Afghanistan.
Amnesty has previously called for 20,000 additional humanitarian places for Afghan refugees over four years from 2026 and urged Australia to prioritise and accelerate outstanding Afghan protection and resettlement applications.
According to Amnesty’s 2026–27 pre-budget submission, 148,356 applications from Afghan nationals for protection and resettlement in Australia were recorded as of October 2025. The organization has called for vulnerable applicants to receive priority processing.
The Australian government allocated 26,500 dedicated humanitarian visa places for Afghans through 2025–26. Foreign Minister Penny Wong also announced an additional A$50 million in humanitarian assistance for Afghanistan in January. Australia says it has provided more than A$310 million in humanitarian support since 2021.
Afghanistan remains a major humanitarian and protection crisis, with restrictions on women and girls limiting access to education, employment and public life. Human rights defenders, journalists and members of some minority communities also face protection concerns.
Australia established a dedicated Afghan humanitarian pathway after the Taliban returned to power in August 2021. The government says more than 5,700 Afghan nationals have been resettled in Australia, while more than 2,000 others had been certified under relevant humanitarian programs as of late July 2026.
Amnesty’s latest appeal comes amid continued calls from refugee advocates for Australia to expand safe pathways for Afghans who remain at risk inside Afghanistan or in neighbouring countries.
