Grassroots women’s rights organisations are the key to tackling violence against women and girls. The Foundation was set up to prevent acid and burn violence and to empower survivors of these attacks, especially women and children. The number of recorded acid attack incidents has almost trebled from 228 in 2012 to 601 attacks in 2016. The SAA campaign has been using social media to raise awareness of acid violence since 2013. ACID ATTACK ON WOMEN'S SOUL: SCAR TO INDIA "I have a dream of becoming a charm and Beautiful lady. Acid that is intended to clean rusted tools is often utilized in the attacks can be purchased throughout the counter. 25 November. ActionAid Bangladesh organised a fashion runway starring 15 acid attack survivors called “Beauty Redefined” on International Women's Day in 2017. We also want to make sure that survivors get proper justice. It is also used as a weapon for revenge. She knows the struggles faced by other survivors. "I am now more confident. In many cases, survivors of attacks live in fear of reprisals. Her story, among others, was told in a series on acid attack victims by Hindustan Times. She tried to give me hope that things would improve. Globally, there are approximately 1,500 acid attacks a year, but it is a crime that often goes unreported for fear of reprisal. It is an expression of control over women's and girls' bodies. His three-step plan is to, first and foremost avoid becoming a secondary victim, call for help and dial 999, and if water is available, use it to dilute the acid. Nykaa has created a campaign called #WhatMakesYouBeautiful starring acid attack survivor and activist Laxmi Agarwal. When she was 15 she rejected the advances of a boy two years older than her, and as a result he came to her house and poured acid on her face. My mother tried to tell me not to feel worried about this. v. t. e. An acid attack, also called acid throwing, vitriol attack, or vitriolage, is a form of violent assault involving the act of throwing acid or a similarly corrosive substance onto the body of another "with … Acid attacks against women and girls therefore have a multiplied impact because of the reaction of society to the survivor – something that is surely known by the perpetrator prior to the attack. Acid attacks are a form of gender-based violence aimed at silencing and controlling women. Nurun Nahar is an assistant officer in gender equality and women’s empowerment at ActionAid Bangladesh. By country. ActionAid seeks to not only address legal reform, but also to prevent further attacks from happening to women and girls, by seeking a change in the social norms which permit men and boys to think that this is acceptable behaviour and to society placing value on women and girls based on their appearance. In Cambodia a government committee tasked with drafting new legislation to curb acid violence was formed in February 2010, after a spate of attacks that began in late 2009. All; TV; Sort by . Support for people whose condition or injury affects their appearance. Now we have launched a hard-hitting new campaign calling on the Government to STOP the evil of acid attacks. Acid attacks are a form of violence, in which acid or another corrosive substance is thrown at a person - usually a woman or a girl - with the intention of maiming, torturing or killing them. Acid attack survivor and activist, Laxmi has become the face of a new fashion campaign in India called "Face of Courage," which challenges social perceptions of physical beauty and attractiveness. In most cases people purposely aim for the face – destroying the eyelids so the eyes remain open – as a woman’s face is seen as sacred. I hope the survivors can move easily through Bangladesh and that society will accept them as normal people – not just acid victims. TV News. Photograph: Rama Lakshmi/Washington Post By harming the face of the survivor, the perpetrator limits their ability to engage in public life and damages their chance of marriage and having children. Stop Acid Attacks. Khodaja was attacked with acid while sleeping when she was 15 years old as a result of a land dispute, in Bangladesh. Families are also often not very supportive and they blame the survivor. The victim of an acid attack has launched a campaign from her hospital bed to end attacks with corrosive substances. I could see that they felt so hopeless and that they had no confidence and so I tried to explain to them about how I had changed my life and to show them that if they can change their thinking then they can also change their life. Rohit Shetty salutes acid attack survivor in... Mumbai: Filmmaker Rohit Shetty has lauded acid attack survivor Lakshmi Agarwal for standing up for herself. ActionAid is a charitable company limited by guarantee and registered in England and Wales (company number 01295174). 2 talking about this. A post campaign survey showed a 45% increase in the general awareness about acid attacks in India. As a consequence survivors of acid and burn attacks suffer enormous physical and psychological trauma. Acid attack survivors will run those new cafes as well, he confirms. Our England and Wales charity number is 274467, and our Scottish charity number is SC045476. The only thing is that I am a girl and I love to do such things which make me… Top image: Nur, pictured here outside her home in Bangladesh, was blinded in both eyes by an acid attack, which also burnt her face, chest and arms. For advice on acid and chemical burns, refer to the NHS. We hope to make people more careful with acid attacks, not only with our self but other living things as well.ABOUT OUR CAMPAIGNPlease continue watchngMisuse of an acid with a high PH ACID … Working in partnership with local partners Acid Survivors Trust International has delivered real impact. After the attack, the family were helped by an ActionAid partner organisation called SoDesh, who put them in touch with the Acid Survivors Foundation. (Written by Yeeleng L.) Stop Acid Attacks. 54 SURVIVORS ACCESS PROFESSIONAL SKILLS TRAINING AND FINANCIAL SUPPORT, 55 SURVIVORS ACCESS SKILLS TRAINING AND/OR START UP KIT/FINANCIAL SUPPORT, 152 SURVIVORS BENEFITED FROM MEDICAL AND PSYCHO-SOCIAL SUPPORT SERVICES, COMMUNITY MEMBERS REACHED THROUGH CAMPAIGN MATERIALS OR STREET THEATRE. “Community members don’t treat acid survivors well," she says. In the case of acid attacks, the weapon used should not be the focus, but rather the root cause of the attack and the fact that in the vast majority of cases, violence is perpetrated against women and girls by men and boys. Sort by . Nicola Bailey/ActionAid. Published. Could you spare 3 minutes to give us your thoughts and help us improve this site? In Bangladesh, where ActionAid works, there have been thousands of acid attacks over the last few years. Help and advice for survivors of acid attacks and other burns and their families. Memorendum to State cabinet Minister. Acid attack survivor Laxmi Agarwal on her journey from victim to victorious. The need to campaign against such attacks received a major boost after the government included acid attack victims for benefits under the RPWD Act 2016. Other methods are used by perpetrators to attack women’s and girls’ bodily integrity – including using fists, knives, and other weapons. Laxmi Agarwal (born 1 June 1990) is an Indian acid attack survivor, a campaigner for rights of acid attack victims, and a TV host.. Laxmi Agarwal was attacked in 2005 in New Delhi at the age of 15, after rebuffing the romantic advances of Naeem Khan. As a consequence of enforcing specific legislation, acid violence has decreased significantly in Bangladesh, Pakistan and Cambodia. ... Agarwal was surprised to find many young, yet responsible men engaged in the campaign against acid attacks. The greatest prevalence is in south Asian countries including India, Pakistan and Bangladesh, where acid remains inexpensive and freely available. “My dream is to see the Network as a development organisation. Her disfigurement then becomes a public mark of shame, making it hard for her to get married or gain employment. We are also focused on systemic change, changing laws and changing attitudes with the result being a sustained decrease in the number of acid attacks worldwide. Using acid is just one method used for the purpose of disfigurement. The industrial-strength acid is&hellip. ", One of the models on the catwalk, Ganga Dasi, 40, had acid thrown on her face at the age of 17 after she refused a marriage proposal. © 2020. The effect of acid on the skin is immediate and devastating. Using India’s burgeoning internet culture, she became an online activist, establishing the Stop Acid Attacks campaign in 2013. Video, 00:02:49 Acid attack survivor's beauty campaign. With ASTI's help, our partners have provided direct support to thousands of survivors globally. I hope that one day they can have even more success than me and be something even bigger and shine even brighter. Acid attacks perpetrated against women and girls are used as a means to permanently scar the survivor – they are an extreme form of violence against women and girls. Acid attack survivor's beauty campaign Jump to media player An Indian woman who survived an acid attack is trying to help other survivors reclaim their pride at her beauty salon. Donate to help end violence against women, Acid attacks: read the stories of survivors. Subsection India. Although it is equally unacceptable when acid violence occurs against men, attacks across the world affect women disproportionately. I will not hide my face any more.". Khodaja and her baby daughter Sonali were sleeping in their home in Bangladesh when they were attacked with acid as the result of a land dispute with a relative. Chemical burns—an historical comparison and review of the literature. London has become a hot spot for the liquid … Acid attack survivors take to the catwalk. 18 August 2015. 7% of burns worldwide are due to chemical exposure. For immediate first aid and to report an acid attack dial 999. Acid Survivors Trust International (ASTI)  is a UK registered charity no. Read more about Farida's and Flavia's stories of recovery in their own words below. They helped pay for the initial medical bills and gave the family counselling. • 3500+ influencers from all walks of life talked about this movement, provoking the masses to look up, take notice and understand the issue in depth. We have helped to change laws in Colombia, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Uganda, Cambodia and as of recently, the UK. Instagram/@katiegee. "I often take inspiration from them. ACID ATTACK CAMPAIGN. 07 Mar 2018 04:34 PM | TellychakkarTeam. Six people, including two children, are being treated by medics after being exposed to an unknown chemical substance at a Co-Op store in Birmingham. Laws against acid attacks are also often weak. There's a new awareness campaign circling around on the Webosphere that is nothing short of inspiring and empowering. I hope it will work so that we can stop this practice of throwing acid on women. Survivors often require long term medical and psycho-social support. The most common reasons for attacks on women and girls is the refusal of marriage, the denial of sex, and the sexual rejection of men and boys. Women in countries around the world live with the threat of acid attacks. Awareness campaign for stopping acid attack in Nepal. An acid attack is the act of throwing acid, or a similar corrosive substance, onto the body of another with the intention to disfigure, torture, or kill the victim. We have helped to change laws in Colombia, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Uganda, Cambodia and as of recently, the UK. Provided Sign up for our COVID-19 newsletter to stay up-to-date on the latest coronavirus news throughout New York City They are used because so much bearing is placed on the physical appearance of women and girls. Keep updated on the latest news and add your voice to ending acid violence. Their courage is huge. 6 February. She is herself an acid survivor. They think if the acid attack hadn’t happened, the family wouldn’t be shamed in this way, and financially they find it hard too because of the costs of the medicines.". Section BBC News. As part of... read more. Acid attack survivor Katie Gee is on a mission to change the way we perceive beauty norms on social media with the hashtag #settingthestandard . The attacks are clearly and cruelly calculated to permanently disfigure, debilitate and ultimately destroy the woman, physically, economically and psychologically. The path to recovery is long and difficult. The campaign has been raising awareness of the issue on social media, and has used the internet to crowdfund resources for acid attack survivors like Neeta, from payments for medical treatment to legal fees to fight the perpetrators. That is my dream.”. It’s unlawful to carry acid with the goal to cause harm. Laxmi Aggarwal, 23, and Nasreen, 33, stand on the balcony of the Stop Acid Attacks campaign office in New Delhi, India. With the right backing they can make sure survivors of acid attacks get the support and justice that they deserve and importantly change laws and social practices which allow attacks to take place and for perpetrators to remain at large. Acid attack survivor's beauty campaign. February 18, 2019, admin343, Comment Closed. No one came forward to help us," she said. We have helped to train hundreds of local surgeons in many countries including Pakistan, Nepal, India and Uganda, who in turn have treated thousands of survivors. I also want to see survivors in Government positions; I want to see them in Parliament. "I lost all hope to live. Retrieved May 6, 2015, from Also, educational institutions are not supportive of survivors and so most of them won’t return to school or college. However, all too often it’s a crime that goes unreported and unpunished. Katie Piper Foundation  We are also focused on systemic change, changing laws and changing attitudes with the result being a sustained decrease in the number of acid attacks worldwide. 2:49. Changing Faces  The event aimed to challenge conventional perceptions of beauty and celebrate the survivors who are creating positive changes in their community. "We are here today to show their inner strength, as they have come a long way," says Farah Kabir, country director of ActionAid Bangladesh. Legislation is likely to regulate acid sales and can impose harsher sentences on attackers including life imprisonment, according to drafting committee deputy chairman Ouk Kimlek. Raising awareness of the high incidence of acid attacks and ways to care for and prevent future medical complications is important. Acid attacks are a form of violence that transcends geographical boundaries. 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