stop acid attack

STOP ACID ATTACK 🙏🏻

The formative years of my life were spent in India. Growing up, I often heard stories of the difficulties faced by joint families, members of an extended family living in the same household — a model still predominant in India. I heard stories of physically abusive in-laws who threaten their daughters-in-law, causing them to feel pressured to stay quiet and to avoid bringing shame to the family. In extreme cases of hostility, this form of violence, although predominantly emotional, would escalate to a bride burning or an acid attack

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. It is also used as a weapon for revenge. Acid attack cases are mostly found in parts of India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Africa, but occur in other places as well.

In the summer of 2014, I became an integral part of an organization and ongoing campaign against acid violence. stop acid attack is a non-profit entity in India that provides long-term rehabilitation and assistance to acid attack survivors. I came across the organization’s work on social media. I was speechless after reading the story of Laxmi, a survivor who was a minor at the time of the attack. Laxmi fought for more than ten years to change the judicial system in India and to tighten restrictions on the sale of acid. I was inspired to join this cause and to help increase awareness about these incidents on a global scale.