Chris Evans (WA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Government in the Senate) Share this | Hansard source

I thank Senator Brown for the question. I do not have information specifically on the question of what the Prime Minister’s reaction has been. I have not spoken to him on the issue and I have not seen any public comment he has made. But the point you raise is a very serious issue. We are concerned about the suppression of the rights of women anywhere. We do believe that it is important that we do all we can in Afghanistan—and elsewhere—to ensure that women have equal rights and are protected from violence, abuse and any other form of discrimination.

In Afghanistan, we believe they have come a long way since the fall of the Taliban regime, but no doubt there is much more to be done. Some steps towards enhancing women’s rights have been made, and the international effort continues in this important matter. I understand that now 28 per cent of the MPs in the lower house in the Afghan parliament are female. In 2008-09, of the 6.2 million children at school, 40 per cent were girls. Under the Taliban, only one million boys were in schools, and girls were prohibited from attending. I think it is fair to say that there has been progress made from the very dark days when the Taliban ruled Afghanistan. I remember meeting a young woman in my own community who came as a refugee and was 11 before she got to go to school in Australia. She was denied that opportunity in Afghanistan and that was a terrible thing. It is a serious issue. It is one that we think is improving but, no doubt, more can be done. We will certainly be doing all we can to support the rights of women in Afghanistan and elsewhere.