In March 2023, the Parliamentary Friendship Group for Hazaras (PFH), comprising of Members of the Australian Parliament from across the political spectrum was launched at Parliament House in Canberra.

The establishment of the Parliamentary Friendship Group for Hazaras (PFH) was one of the key asks of the Australian-Hazara community following nationwide protests in Australia against the tragic attack on Kaaj Academic Learning Centre  in Kabul, Afghanistan on 1 October 2022, that killed 54 and injured 112 people, mostly school-aged girls and boys.

 Following the Kaaj Academic Learning Centre attack, the Hazara community in Australia recognised the need for better understanding within the Australian polity and the Australian government of the danger faced by their family members, relatives, and community living under Taliban rule in Afghanistan.

It is the hope of the Hazara community in Australia that with understanding and recognition of the acute dangers faced by the Hazara people living under the Taliban that concrete, and actionable steps to protect the Hazara community can follow.  

The immediate aim of the PFH is as follows:

(1) The Australian Parliament to pass a motion recognising the historical and ongoing escalating systemic violence, discrimination, dispossession, persecution, and genocidal threats faced by Hazara people.

(2) The Members of the PFH to look for opportunities to ensure that the Australian government work with international partners and allies to better protect the rights of Hazara people, and other highly vulnerable groups living under the rule of the Taliban.

(3) The Members of the PFH work with Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), and Australia’s aid delivery partners and contractors in Afghanistan to ensure that the Australian aid commitments to the people of Afghanistan is delivered on human rights based approach, is equitable, and non-discriminatory.  

(4) The Members of the PFGH support the cultural, social, and economic development of Hazaras who have found safety in Australia and now call Australia home.

Australian Hazara Advocacy Network provides secretariat support to the PFH.