"... all of a sudden I fell to the ground as a burning sensation swept through my face, neck and hands. He ran off straight away as I started screaming as soon as I could catch my breath."
This is
a tragic account of a woman who was attacked with acid in Pakistan. Her crime? She had been raped.
Women are attacked with acid for any number of reasons—personal vendettas, shopping during Eid, or being the victim of sexual assault. Ongoing acid attacks towards women in Pakistan are
on the rise: this year alone there have been at least 160 reported acid attacks towards women in Pakistan, completely destroying their lives.
The damage from these attacks are external and internal, and victims are haunted by this horrific violence for the rest of their lives. Acid attack victims face social stigma as they are seen as
“bad luck” and many end up fleeing the country for their own safety.
Acid violence laws could save hundreds of Pakistani women from a lifetime of suffering, but they must be implemented on the ground level. Establishing government oversight to ensure implementation of these laws and prosecuting attackers to the full extent of the law will ensure the safety of Pakistani women.
It's time for this horrific violence against women to stop. Please sign your name and tell Prime Minister Sharif to implement acid violence laws!Dear Prime Minister Sharif,
Acid attacks against Pakistani women are on the rise, and it's time the government stepped in to end these horrific attacks.
I strongly urge you to establish acid violence laws, criminalizing acid attacks. I also ask that you establish a government oversight to ensure full implementation of these laws, with detailed record-keeping of the number of acid aqttacks versus the number of prosecutions. Finally, I ask you to provide additional resources and training for local police when dealing with acid attack victims, and victims of sexual assault.
[Your comments here]
Thank you.
Sincerely,
[Your name]
