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Acid violence is an outrageous form of torture which involves throwing of corrosive acid at the victim’s face. This not only causes face disfigurement but also has a catastrophic effect on the victim’s life. It is one of the worst forms of domestic violence and is most often directed towards women. However, children are often the collateral damage of this kind of violence. The effects of acid violence include serious physical harm (loss of eyes and limbs, corrosion of organs, and subsequent infections such as septicaemia and gangrene). In addition to the inevitable psychological trauma, survivors also face social isolation and ostracism that further damages their self-esteem and gravely undermines their personal and professional future. Acid Survivors Foundation (ASF) has been working on acid violence issues since 2006 with the support of a UK-based organization, Acid Survivors Trust International (ASTI). The ultimate goal of the organization is to eliminate acid violence from Pakistan and promote human rights of the survivors through a peaceful democratic process. Acid Survivors Foundation also provides medical, psycho-socio rehabilitation, legal and socio-economic rehabilitation to acid burn survivors. Till date, the organization has identified 276 acid attack cases, treated 74 patients and provided legal support in 42 cases. Very recently, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Pakistan, Mr Iftikhar Chaudhry has also asked about the phenomenon of acid violence, before issuing a decision in a suo moto case (NAILA FARHAT) on November 20, 2009. The Chief Justice has asked the Government to pass Acid Crime Prevention Act which would specifically deal with acid attack cases in terms of prevention & punishment, and the Acid Control Act, to regulate the sale and purchase of acid, as done by Bangladesh in 2002. Furthermore, he has also asked the government to provide free medical treatment to these acid burn victims and help them in terms of provision of legal aid and rehabilitation facilities. He has appreciated the work of Acid Survivors Foundation for providing free medical treatment, psycho-socio rehabilitation, legal aid and assistance & socio-economic rehabilitation to the acid burn victims. The punishment granted to the accused in the above mentioned case was twelve years and three months along with a fine of 1.2 Million Rupees, which is higher than that stated in the Pakistan Penal Code. This initiative taken by the Supreme Court provides a strong basis for advocating and lobbying for the need of laws dealing specifically with the issue of acid violence, the prevention of such crimes in future, and the need to regulate the sale & purchase of acid. In addition, it is the first time that an acid attack case has reached the Supreme Court which is a big achievement not only in terms of this case, but for future cases as well as it will encourage other victims to come forward and seek justice through an effective and timely judicial process, and enable other courts to grant a higher punishment keeping the Supreme Court precedent in mind. A number of Parliamentarians like Marvi Memon (PML-Q), Begum Shenaz Wazir Ali and Anusha Rehman (PML-N) have also come forward to advocate for this cause and have taken upon the challenge to draft a bill (to be called the Acid Control & Acid Crime Prevention Act 2009), with a team of legal experts, which would specifically deal with the issue of acid violence. Currently, as there is no law in Pakistan that specifically deals with the issue of acid violence. The acid attack cases are tried under Sections 324, 332 & 335 of the Pakistan Penal Code. Sections 332 & 335 talk about hurt and disfigurement but do not define disfigurement specifically and comprehensively. Section 336 states the punishment for causing disfigurement which is up to ten years. The new Act will not only define disfigurement but will also increase the punishment upto life imprisonment which will act as a strong deterrent to prevent acid attacks in future. It will also make the perpetrator liable for all the medical expenses incurred and losses suffered by the aggrieved person, and in case of failure of payment by the accused, the Act makes it obligatory for the court to make the accused pay the compensation money to the victim. The second aspect of Acid Violence, which by far, is also the biggest reason why acid violence is so common in our part of the world, is the easy accessibility of acid to the general public, particularly in Southern Punjab. The current legislation which is closely but not sufficiently related to the regulation of acid availability is, Poisons Act 1919, which only caters to the ‘sale’ of poisons and not its ‘purchase’. Moreover, the punishment for a breach of unauthorized sale under the Act of 1919 is only Rs.500 because of which till date the sellers of unauthorized sale of poisons (including acid) sell unsealed quantities without any fear of check and control. The new Act, on the other hand, not only defines poisons widely (to cover all categories of harmful substances or chemicals) and caters to the ‘sale and regulation of poisons’, but also increases the punishment for the unauthorized ‘sale and purchase of poisons’. In addition, it also introduces an extensive and thorough system of licensing to monitor the sale and purchase of all poisons which are currently accessible by the general public and makes it obligatory for the cancellation and suspension of licenses in case these substances are sold/purchased by someone who is not authorized to do so. The Acid Control and Acid Crime Prevention Act 2009 acts as an important tool to safeguard the rights of acid burn survivors and the people of Pakistan in general against atrocious and heinous crimes. If passed by the parliament it will be evident that our country is now committed to fight for and protect acid survivors’ human rights and the rights of women and children in general, for an Acid Violence Free Pakistan! ———————————————————————————————————– This public awareness article about Acid Violence and Acid Surviors Foundation was shared by Sana Masood who is a Human Right Activist and serves as Legal Coordinator at UNDP GJP Project, Acid Survivors Foundation
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{ 5 comments… read them below or add one }
its more like I say no to all kinds of violence. These were new ideas of violence that have been introduced to Pakistan soil due to the Taliban. We all stand against extremism and we have to be united. Its just us the people who can pull ourselves out of this deep hole.
Violence has been indoctrinated in our culture and norms, be it the mob violence in Karachi after the Ashura blast or throwing of acids on women who dares to defy such norms. The roots of such incidents lie in our upbringing and educational system. As a nation we need to promote the voices of peace, coexistence and liberty
@ Hirra Mir sister———–plz. Don’t put blame of every wrong doing in our society on Taliban.Open your eyes,read history,Why we have forgot 1-Lakh members of our community who lost their lives in 1947,again we lost almost 1-Lakh in Liberation of East pakistan.Who was behind about all this privation?Endiya.And now who put us in this Current situation?Americans.We fought their fight in Afghanistan,we are sacrificing since last 30-years,day by day we are loosing our youth,our sisters are getting widowed.Like Bilawal ,So many kids have lost their parents.Like Zardari so many people have lost their LIFE partners for EVER and we keep blaming each other.Americans want to introduce their culture with full swing in pakistan.Keep in Mind that is Promise of My Lord that Till the Doom day,a favourable Jihadi group will remain be on the earth & busy to fight in the Path Of My Allah,compose of young,old,with all creed black, white,brown.Keep one more thing in Your Mind, My Lord only accepts the sacrifices of lucky SELECTED peoples ,every one can’t get this opportunity.Others like us have to die on road accidents,kill in domestic violence,target killings or die on bed with prolong uncureable diseases.
Acid Violence is Grewsome & violent Act,in Lahore one sister (I forgot the name ,I guess she had beautician clinic) is doing pivotal rule to habilitate the victims.JAPAN has more victims of Acid Violence as compare to pakistan.
I think it is futile to make comparisons between countries and blaming others for the problems that exist in our society, as far as violence is concerned. It is settled that all forms of violence including acid violence is a global phenomenon and not restricted to any geographical location; (http://www.acidviolence.org/index.php/news/katie-piper-no-boundaries-for-savagery/). However what is important is to combat the harmful elements which could potentially give rise to such atrocities, advocate for the strict punishment for the perpetrators of all sorts of violence to prevent such crimes in future and to ensure that the human rights of these victims are duly and rightly protected. Moreover, the purpose of empowering these victims to take a stand for themselves is not to isolate them from the society but to reintegrate them back into the society for their social growth and development, and to make them serve as a role model for thousands of other victims who are afraid of raising their voice or seeking justice.
Don’t go in Details,put completly ban on Acid purchase/sale without permit issued by ministry of Industries.”Na Hoo Ga Banns - Na Bujay gi Bunsuriya”.
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