Acid attacks down 50 percent after law enacted

The incidence of acid violence has decreased by 50 per cent in Pakistan since enacting a legislation criminalising acid and burn violence in December 2011, said a report on "Countering Acid Burn Violence in Pakistan: A Success Story". Acid violence generated the highest average national rate of conviction for violence against women and girls, which was around 10 per cent when it comes to acid violence compared to 0.6 per cent for other types of violence.
Pakistan achieved a landmark when it enacted a legislation criminalising acid and burn violence in December 2011 and imposed a stringent fine and punishment for such crime that was Rs 1 million and minimum 14 years to lifetime imprisonment, the report said. Acid Survivors Foundation Pakistan (ASF-Pak) launched its report titled 'Countering Acid Burn Violence in Pakistan: A Success Story' as an activity conducted under the project "Addressing Violence against Women & Girls in Pakistan by Promoting Women & Girls' Empowerment" here on Monday.
The ASF-Pak in partnership with Group Development Pakistan and in collaboration with National Commission on the Status of Women (NCSW) held an Experience Sharing workshop with the support of the European Union (EU). As per law, 'The Criminal Law (Second Amendment) Act, 2011' relates to amendments in section 332 of the PPC 1860, and the Schedule-II of CCP 1898 & insertion of sections 336A and 336B.
The section 332 which includes addition of words "disfigures" & "defaces" in the definition of hurt. Whereas, section 336A points out hurt caused by corrosive substance which is deleterious to human body when it is swallowed, inhaled comes into contact or received into human body. And, section 336B is the punishment for hurt by the corrosive substance which is now punishable with minimum 14 years to lifetime imprisonment along with one million rupees as fine. This crime is non-bailable and non-compoundable.
Executive Director ASF-Pak, Mohammad Khan Yousafzai conducted an experience sharing workshop. Ambassador Jean-François Cautain, Head of the Delegation of the European Union in Pakistan, acknowledged the Pakistani success story that shows that acid violence has decreased by 50 per cent in the country. The panel of guests included EU Ambassador Jean-François Cautain, Chief of panel Chairperson NCSW Khawar Mumtaz, Member National Commission on Human Rights Chaudhry Shafiq, Chairman Uleme Aman Committee Pakistan, Dr Mufti Akeel Pirzada, and Chairperson KPCSW Neelam Toru.
Neelam Toru, Chairperson of the PCSW in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (newly renamed as the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Commission on the Status of Women, KPCSW) stated that KP is actively working on a comprehensive legislation to reinforce those results. She informed that two bills have been drafted including Acid & Burnt Bill and other one Domestic Violence Bill. She told that Acid Burn Bill is currently with the law department of KP, whereas the Domestic Violence Bill has not been accepted yet though the bill was submitted to the Cabinet, which forwarded it to the assembly where the bill was declared as un-Islamic and rejected.
Chaudhry Shafiq, member of National Commission on Human Rights (NCHR) called for further co-ordinated action to eradicate violence against women and girls capitalising on identified successful practices. Dr Mufti Akeel Pirzada spoke about his commitment to fighting for human rights in Pakistan. He was especially moved by the plight of burn victims and encouraged the civil society networks to approach and engage the Ulema Aman Committee for support and facilitation with their work.
Burn Violence Survivors (BVS Nepal) joined the event via Skype to share its experience relating to countering acid and burn violence in Nepal. Laetitia, the head of BVS-Nepal stated that she was inspired by the Pakistani achievements. Naila Farhat, an activist who had herself been attacked with acid, shared her joy at seeing such positive steps and results in Pakistan. She insisted that more work is required, saying Pakistan is heading in right direction.
The event was attended by the European Union delegation, representatives of international and civil society organisations, national institutions working for the promotion of women rights, civil society networks, human rights groups, college/university students, and members of the government and media.