Allegations by Australian troops that an Afghan security forces officer forced female police recruits into prostitution and facilitated their rape are being investigated.
Source: Female police recruits ‘forced into prostitution by Afghan officer’
Key points:
- Defence now acknowledge allegations, referred to Afghan authorities
- Delay in reporting allegations Afghan female police recruits being forced into prostitution
- Defence initially said there were no reports of abuse of women in 14 years
The ABC understands Australian personnel in Kabul recently became aware of the allegations against the Afghan officer — who they are advising as part of Australia’s scaled-down mission in Afghanistan — but it appears there was a delay in relaying those concerns to Defence officials in Australia.
In response to questions from the ABC last week, Defence initially said there had been no reports in 14 years by Australian personnel of abuse of women by Afghan security forces.
The reporting of any suspected abuse is mandatory under international laws that Australia is signatory to.
“Defence does not have any records of reported allegations of abuse against women by members of the Afghan security forces,” Defence said.
However, after further questions from the ABC, Defence then acknowledged the allegations against the Afghan officer, saying they had been referred “to the appropriate chain of command in the NATO-led Resolute Support mission”.