Women empowerment: ‘Special legislation required to prevent acid attacks’

Rehabilitated acid victims at the seminar share their experiences.

LAHORE:

Acid attacks are a heinous crime and special legislation is required to prevent such incidents, Adviser to the Chief Minister on Health Khwaja Salman Rafique said on Wednesday.

Rafique was at an event marking the success of Depilex Smile Again Foundation’s (DSF) Women Empowerment Project that rehabilitates domestic violence victims. He said the rising cases of domestic violence against women were a cause for concern.

“Acid attacks are now not just limited to women. We have seen cases in which acid has also been thrown on men. Special legislation aimed at holding the culprits accountable is required,” he added.

Rafique said that women empowerment was a priority for the government. The government’s decision to establish 14 daycare centres in the Punjab to support working mothers reflected this commitment, he said.



Awais-e-Siraj, the Genzee Solutions Pvt Ltd CEO, gave a presentation on the financial and economic aspects of women’s empowerment.

Dr Zahra Ahmed, a doctor at CMH Lahore Medical and Dental College, shared her views on the psychological support that had been provided to acid victims through workshops conducted last year.  “As many as 30 victims were treated by the DSF in 2013. The victims underwent reconstructive surgeries along with medical, financial, psychological, moral and vocational support. DSF also facilitated job placement for these rehabilitated individuals,” she added.

DSF President Musarrat Misbah said the DSF was registered with 12 hospitals across Pakistan for OPDs, referrals and surgeries. Through efforts made by the DSF and its partner civil society organizations, she said, laws to protect women from domestic violence and acid burn crimes had been passed. She said the DSF was now building a pressure group for strict implementation of these laws.

Rehabilitated acid victims attended the event and spoke about how they had managed to acquire skills through the support of DSF.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 16^th, 2014.