Australia has joined other nations in condemning the Taliban for its decision to ban Afghan women from universities.
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In a joint statement released on Thursday, Australia is among the US and UK, France, Germany, Japan and others rebuking the Taliban's "relentless and systemic" oppression of women and girls in Afghanistan since taking power.
"These policies make clear the Taliban's disregard for the human rights and fundamental freedoms of the people of Afghanistan," the statement reads.
"We stand with all Afghans in their demand to exercise their human rights consistent with Afghanistan's obligations under international law.
"Taliban policies designed to erase women from public life will have consequences for how our countries engage with the Taliban."
In a statement on Twitter, Foreign Minister Penny Wong declared solidarity with the war-torn nation's women, "strongly" condemning the regime's measure to "erase women from public life".
"The country's future relies on women and girls' access to education," Senator Wong said.
"We stand with the women of Afghanistan."
Through decrees and edicts in the last 16 months, women have been removed from workplaces, their movement restricted, are required to wear head-to-toe coverings, and have been banned from public spaces including parks and gyms.
Australian Associated Press
