Domestic violence: Acid burns victim recalls a birthday she will never forget

Other victims of domestic violence share stories at Depilex event.

KARACHI:

Kanwal’s husband promised her a birthday she will never forget. When he threw acid on her face on the day of her 22nd birthday in 2007, he fulfilled his promise.

The acid burns victim underwent a surgery on her eyebrow last week. She has had so many surgeries in the past six years that she hardly remembers the number. “More than 30 times as far as I remember,” said Kanwal. She was one of the acid burns victims who attended the ‘Women Empowerment Project’ event at Pearl Continental hotel on Friday. The project, organised by Depilex Smileagain Foundation, aims to rehabilitate victims of domestic violence.

In the incident, she lost an eye, an ear and a nose. “A night before the birthday, my husband said I would remember the gift forever…,” she recalled. Kanwal had been selected as an airhostess and was ready to join the profession when she was attacked.

Later, her husband divorced her. “He wanted to continue the relations even after the verbal divorce but I refused,” she said.



Violence against women is a prevailing social menace in the country, said additional health secretary Dr Mohammad Aslam Pechuho, promising that his department will support the organisation that helped victims of domestic violence.

“Pakistan needs organisations that can take a lead in addressing such gender-specific crimes,” said Pechuho. “Women empowerment is very important and our government is focused on addressing this issue.”

Musarrat Misbah, the president of Depilex foundation, explained that their ‘Rehabilitation of Domestic Violence Victims Project’ supports women empowerment. “It is a step towards helping women reach their full potential and achieve economic security in an environment free of violence, discrimination, intimidation, or gender bias, in Pakistan.”

As a result of the project in Lahore and Karachi, 70 women-survivors of domestic violence received psychological and psychiatric treatment and obtained the necessary skills to integrate into the job market.

For Kanwal, this is a dream she has yet to achieve. “I have tried to find a public job but all efforts have been in vain.” The young woman admitted she does not want to be transformed into a beautiful woman. “I just want to look okay enough to survive easily.”

Kanwal has a 12-year-old son and a seven-year-old daughter. “My children are being supported by my brother,” she told The Express Tribune. She found it difficult to interact with her children when the incident took place but, after her frequent surgeries, life has become a bit comfortable. “I don’t know how many more surgeries I need …may be they [doctors] will say it is my last surgery before my body will be laid inside a grave.”

Published in The Express Tribune, February 2^nd, 2014.