Acid Survivors Foundation In The Field, A Realistic View…

February 1st, 2010 by Valerie Khan No comments »
Jean Loncle A French journalist, Valerie Khan Yusufzai and Rajprit ASTI communication officer in front of Nishtar hospital in Multan.

Jean Loncle A French journalist, Valerie Khan Yusufzai and Rajprit ASTI communication officer in front of Nishtar hospital in Multan.

Many of you must be wondering what Acid Survivors Foundation is exactly doing when the team goes on the field; we are therefore presenting you a collection of pictures that will illustrate our activities away from the Nursing Care and Rehabilitation Unit. Kindly note that keeping in touch with the local government, the stakeholders and the community is essential to create  a social disapproval regarding acid violence and generate social support for our action.
The same team talking to an acid retailer in Multan, Punjab.

The same team talking to an acid retailer in Multan, Punjab.

ASF team often meets acid shops owners to sensitize them about their civic responsibilities and the need to monitor the acid distribution.
Ultimately, we would like to create some sort of watch committees that could ensure that an acid sale regulation and monitoring law would be implemented efficiently.
These expert volunteers are always there for taking up the cases that need to be proceeded in front of the court. They are also essential to guide us and link us with influential politicians or parliamentarians who would be ready to support a change in the current legal framework. Thanks to them, justice is not a dream but becomes a reality. last but not least. Meeting the communities means that the survivors are acknowledged for their efforts and that this link is the key to the establishment of groups of change agents that will voice out against acid violence, domestic violence and child abuse.
ASF team doscussing the issue of acid violence in a village, in a family in which 31 family members were attacked with acid.

ASF team doscussing the issue of acid violence in a village, in a family in which 31 family members were attacked with acid.

ASF team and one of ASF pro bono lawyer : Mr Rasheed Rehman.

ASF team and one of ASF pro bono lawyer : Mr Rasheed Rehman.

An Interesting Article Clearly Demonstrating Why It Is Necessary To Establish A More Relevant Legal Framework To Stop Acid Violence In Pakistan.

January 30th, 2010 by Valerie Khan 1 comment »

WARNING : Acid Survivors Foundation disagrees with the words “Mysoginist” used in this article and would like to insist on the fact that most of the male acid victims (25% of the victims identified by Acid Survivors Foundation to date) are also not in the position to enjoy their basic right to access justice and medical care.

Kindly visit this link.

www.ahrchk.net/statements/mainfile.php/2010statements/2392/

Congratulations ASTI!

January 30th, 2010 by Valerie Khan No comments »

We wish the best of luck to our long time partner from England and are proud to see their precious efforts rewarded this way.

HRH The Princess Royal

Dr John Morrison, Founder of ASTI, with HRH The Princess Royal at the Acid Survivors Foundation, Bangladesh, 2000.Dr John Morrison, Founder of ASTI, with HRH The Princess Royal at the Acid Survivors Foundation, Bangladesh, 2000.

It gives us great pleasure to inform you that HRH The Princess Royal has agreed to be Patron of Acid Survivors Trust International (ASTI). More to come……

Acid Survivors Foundation Nursing Care And Rehabilitation Unit : The Way Towards Normal Life.

January 29th, 2010 by Valerie Khan No comments »
Valerie Khan Yusufzai and Nazeraan, during a French baking lesson at Acid Survivors Foundation Nursing Care and Rehabilitation Unit.

Valerie Khan Yusufzai (ASF Chairperson) and Nazeraan, during a French baking lesson at Acid Survivors Foundation Nursing Care and Rehabilitation Unit.

Among the activities that are regularly practised in the Nursing Care and Rehabilitation Unit with the survivors, cooking is very much present, it is part of any human being’s daily routine and is essential in the process of developing one’s independance and sustainability. When Nazeeran faces the judge to ask to be granted her daughters’ custody in spite of being blind, she will be able to claim : “Not only can I feed my children and prepare their meals but I can also cook French cuisine for them!” .

Acid Survivors Foundation team enjoyed the “galette” and hopes that Nazeeran will prepare another one next month!

Acid Violence And Hope In Pictures : Mohammad Hussein, Associated Press.

January 29th, 2010 by Valerie Khan No comments »

Friday, January 29, 2010

I

01/14/2010

Picture This

Marked for Life

Zoom
AP

These are the folded hands of 25-year-old Nusrat Aflal, as he sits in front of a television. He is the victim of an acid attack, which left behind the brutal scars. He is a member of the Acid Survivors Foundation in Islamabad, Pakistan, a group which offers medical, psychological and legal help to acid attack victims. The perpetrators often come from the victims’ own families, making the attacks even more difficult for the victims to overcome. It is not uncommon for acid attack victims to commit suicide.

Check out the Picture This archive here.

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Acid Survivors Foundation Volunteer : Another Example!

January 28th, 2010 by Valerie Khan 2 comments »

Mr. Naveed M. Khan is a Barrister of the Honourable Society of Lincoln’s Inn. He is a specialist in company law, mergers and acquisitions, privatization matters, company regulatory issues, including company incorporations and ensuring compliance of statutory requirements. His skill lies in drafting and vetting various agreements used in the banking and commercial sector including but not limited to facility agreements, lease agreements, loan agreements, employment contracts and related issues and general contract agreements.

Mr. Khan has a sound grasp over State Bank Regulations regarding foreign exchange laws. He has been involved in advising American Express, US on issues pertaining to payment to residents in Pakistan in US dollars as well as issues relating to foreign remittances for a particular product they had wished to introduce in Pakistan.

Mr. Khan has also dealt with PTA for various issues and inquiries and have mostly liaised with their legal department.

Mr. Khan was also involved in an important project relating to map building and collection of data by a foreign client who had wished to come to Pakistan with a team of experts. Mr. Khan is an expert in due diligence procedure normally required in privatization matters and has been involved in the drafting and vetting of documentation/agreements required for setting up power projects.

Mr. Khan has a keen interest in developing and refining the legal framework within Pakistan which is vital for dispensing justice. Recently, Mr. Khan was invited to a consultative workshop held at Islamabad Margalla Motel soliciting comments and reviews on draft legislation for sexual harassment at workplace and domestic violence. Before a panel of stakeholders, Mr. Khan delivered a speech highlighting a number of shortcomings that were present in the said legislations and provided useful suggestions for revising the draft so as to remove certain imperfections in the said drafts.  Mr. Khan is also working closely with Acid Survivor’s Foundation, a non-governmental organization established to provide relief and support to acid burn victims and Sanjog, an organisation dedicated for protection of vulnerable children and their empowerment.

Mr. Khan is also a lecturer for business law at Management Development Institute at Islamabad which is affiliated with Thames Business School, Australia.

Mr Naveed Khan is one of our pro bono legal advisor. You wil find his profile underneath. We would like to avail this opportunity to thank him for his continuous valuable support!

Mr Naveed Khan is one of our pro bono legal advisor. You wil find his profile above. We would like to avail this opportunity to thank him for his continuous valuable support!

Great News For Acid Survivors In Pakistan!

January 27th, 2010 by Valerie Khan No comments »

The bill regarding Acid Violence that has been submitted to the National Assembly by Marvi Memon and her supporting group has been tabled yersterday, 26th January 2009.

Acid Survivors Foundation is proud of the Pakistani parliamentarians who have hereby recognised the need to address and act upon acid violence in Pakistan. However, the most difficult now lays ahead : some elements of the proposed bill do clearly need to be reviewed in order to ensure that a maximum parliamentarians will support this bill or rather these amendments, including the most orthodox ones, and this, within the spirit of promoting/protecting human rights : some parliamentarians or senators may very well demand that Qisas, “an eye for an eye” law should be applied as a punishment for the perpetrator as they are shocked by the cruelty of acid attack and as they are determined to stop it…

As much as we understand these senators and parliamentarians’ reactions, as much as we are thankful to them for their commitment to protect acid survivors and eradicate acid violence in Pakistan, as human rights activists, we cannot support such a punishment and will therefore come up with a different strategy that will still satisfy our common goal : eradicate one of the wost forms of torture, domestic violence and human rights breach and ensure that acid survivors in Pakistan become proactive and autonomous citizens ready to develop a democratic society in a peaceful manner…

Wish us luck for the coming consultations!

Thank You…

January 20th, 2010 by Valerie Khan 1 comment »

It is sometimes important to take time to thank the people who are there for others…

Acid Survivors Foundation would therefore like to thank its donors for all their support and dedication, their continuous help and solidarity.

We would also like to quote an example of donations by daughters on behalf of their mother, we found it moving.

Salaams. I hope that all is going well with your efforts. For your information, I just contributed $200 online in memory of my mother (Janice Payson) and a friend’s mother (Christiana Nnang).

Thanks for doing this important work.

Best regards,

Melissa

On behalf of all acid survivors, thank you.

Acid Crime Prevention Bill : Join The Move!

January 20th, 2010 by Valerie Khan 6 comments »

Dear readers,

Here below, you will see the amendments that Marvi Memon with other parliamentarians has proposed to the parliament. We would be very honored and grateful if  some legal experts who would have time to visit our website could make a critical review of this and  get back to us on the matter.

The various feed back will later on be compiled by our pro bono legal consultant, to initiate the legal consultation process IF THE PROPOSITION IS TABLED.

Acid Survivors Foundation thank you all in advance for your commitment towards eradication of acid violence.

You will first be introduced to the bill and then you can find our feed back sheet that you are more than welcome to send to the following address : valekhan@yahoo.fr

TO BE INTRODUCED IN THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY

A

BILL

to amend various Acts and Codes in relation to protection against acid crimes, and  rehabilitation of and compensation for victims of acid crimes.

WHEREAS the Constitution recognizes the fundamental rights of women and children to security of life and liberty, and dignity of person;

AND WHEREAS it is expedient to institutionalize measures which prevent and protect women and children from acid crimes and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto;

It is hereby enacted as follows:-

1. Short Title and Commencement

(1)           This Act may be called the Acid Control and Acid Crime Prevention Act, 2009.

(2)           It extends to the whole of Pakistan.

(3)           Its shall come into force at once.

2.             Amendment of Section 332, Act XLV of 1860

In the Pakistan Penal Code, 1860 (Act XLV of 1860), section 332 sub-section (1) shall be amended as following:-

332.      Hurt

(1)           Whoever causes pain, harm, disease, infirmity or injury to any person or impairs, disables, disfigures, defaces or dismembers any organ of the body or any part thereof of any person without causing his death, is said to cause hurt.”

3.             Insertion of Section 336A, Act XLV of 1860

In the Pakistan Penal Code, 1860 (Act XLV of 1860), after section 336, the following new Sections 336A and 336B shall be inserted, namely:-

“336A.   Voluntarily causing hurt by dangerous means or substances

(i)            Whoever voluntarily causes hurt by means of fire or any heated substance, or by means of any poison or any corrosive substance or acid, or by means of any explosive or arsenic substance or by means of any substance which is deleterious to the human body to come into contact with, to inhale, to swallow, or to receive into the blood is said to cause hurt by dangerous means or substances.

336B. Punishment for causing hurt by dangerous means or substances

(i)            Whoever, by doing any act with the intention of causing hurt to any person, or with the intention that he is likely to cause hurt to any person, causes hurt by dangerous means or substances to any person, shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to life, or with fine which may not be less than five hundred thousand rupees, or with both.

(ii)           Notwithstanding the provision contained in sub-section (i) hereof, the court may, at any stage of the trial on an application by the aggrieved person, direct the accused to pay monetary relief to meet the expenses incurred and losses suffered by the aggrieved person and such relief may include, but is not limited to:-

(a)           loss of earning; and

(b)           medical expense.

(iii)          The accused shall pay monetary relief to the person aggrieved within the period specified in the order made in terms of sub-section (ii) and in accordance with terms thereof.

(iv)          The court may, upon failure on part of the accused to make payment in terms of the order under sub-section (iii) direct an employer or debtor, of the accused, to directly pay the aggrieved person or to deposit with the court a portion of the wages or salaries or debt due to or accrued to the credit of the accused, which amount may be adjusted towards the monetary relief payable by the accused or recover the same as arrears of land revenue.”

4.             Amendment of Schedule II, Act V of 1898

In the Criminal Procedure Code, 1898 (Act V of 1898) in Schedule II, after the entries relating to section 336, the following new entries shall be inserted, namely:–

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
“336B Causing hurt by dangerous means or substances Ditto Ditto Ditto Not compoundable Imprisonment of either description for life or with fine, or with both Court of Session”

5.             Amendment of Section 2(1), Act XII of 1919

In the Poisons Act, 1919 (Act XII of 1919), Section 2 sub-section (1) shall be amended, namely:-

“(1)         The Provincial Government may by rules consistent with this Act regulate or prohibit, within the whole or any part of the territories under its administration, except under and in accordance with the conditions of a license granted as provided by this Act and those rules, the manufacture, possession, use, sale and purchase, whether wholesale or retail, of poisons or any specified poison.”

6.             Amendment of Section 2, Act XII of 1919

In the Poisons Act, 1919 (Act XII of 1919), in Section 2, after sub-section (2), the following sub-sections (3), (4) and (5) shall be added, namely:-

“(3)         Except as provided by sub-section (4), a person shall not manufacture, distribute, supply or sell by wholesale or retail any poison unless he is licensed pursuant to the provisions of Section 2A to do so.

(4)                 Subject to this Act and the rules,

(a)           a pharmaceutical chemist is authorized to manufacture, have in his possession, and to use, supply or sell at his pharmacy in the ordinary course of his retail business any preparation, admixture or extract containing any poison;

(b)           a medical practitioner or veterinary surgeon is authorized to have in his possession and to use, supply or sell in the lawful practice of his profession any poison; and

(c)           any dentist is authorized to have in his possession and to use in the lawful practice of his profession any poison.

(d)           any other category of person notified by Provincial government in the official gazette.

(5)           Subject to this Act and the rules,

(a)           it shall not be lawful to sell any non-medicinal poison to any person unless that person is either:-

(i)            certified in writing in the prescribed manner by a person authorized by the [rules] to give a certificate for the purposes of this section, or

(ii)           known by the seller or by a pharmacist in the employment of the seller where the sale is effected,

to be a person to whom the poison may be properly sold;

(b)           the seller of any such poison shall not deliver it until:-

(i)            he has made or caused to be made an entry in a book to be kept for that purpose stating in the prescribed form the date of the sale, the name and address of the purchaser and of the person (if any) by whom the certificate required under paragraph (a) above was given, the name and quantity of the article sold, and the purpose for which it is stated by the purchaser to be required, and

(ii)           the purchaser has signed the entry.”

7.             Insertion of new Section 2(A), Act XII of 1919

In the Poisons Act, 1919 (Act XII of 1919), after Section 2, the following new Section shall be inserted namely:-

2A         License to sell poisons

(1)           Subject to this Act and the rules, a licensing authority may grant a license:-

(a)                 to make any poison;

(b)                 to manufacture and distribute or sell by wholesale any poison;

(c)                 to sell by wholesale any poison;

(d)                 to sell by retail any poison; or

(e)                 to import across a customs frontier any poison.

in or at any pharmacy or other premises or place of business specified in the license, to any person who satisfies the licensing authority that he is a fit and proper person to be the holder of such a license.

(2)           An application for a license under this section shall be made in the prescribed manner to the licensing authority, which may in its discretion grant or refuse the license.

(3)           The licensing authority shall not grant any license under this section unless and until it is satisfied that the premises of the applicant are suitable for the purpose in respect of which application is made for the license, and are properly and hygienically equipped for that purpose.

(4)           All existing pharmacies, dealers, vendors, manufacturers, suppliers and other persons who require a license pursuant to sub-section (1), shall apply to the licensing authority for the relevant license not later that six months from the date of promulgation of rules under the Acid Control and Acid Crime Prevention Act, 2009.”

8.             Amendment of Section 6(1), Act XII of 1919

In the Poisons Act, 1919 (Act XII of 1919), Section 6(1) shall be amended as following:-

6.           Penalties

(1)           Whoever—

(a)                             commits a breach of any condition contained in Section 2 or of any rule made under Section 2,

(b)                             imports without a license into Pakistan across a customs frontier defined by the Federal Government any poison the importation of which is for the time being restricted under Section 3, or

(c)                             breaks any condition of a license granted to him under Section 2A,

shall be punishable—

(i)                   on a first conviction, with imprisonment for a term which may extend to one year or with fine which may extend to one hundred thousand rupees, or with both, and

(ii)                 on a second and subsequent conviction, with imprisonment for a term which may extend to two years, or with fine which may extend to two hundred thousand rupees, or with both.”

9.             Amendment of Section 6(2), Act XII of 1919

In the Poisons Act, 1919 (Act XII of 1919), in Section 6, in sub-section (2) for the full stop at the end a colon shall be substituted and thereafter the following words shall be added, namely :-

“and notwithstanding anything contained in the Criminal Procedure Code, 1898 the offences under this Section shall be cognizable, non-bailable and compoundable.”

10. Insertion of Clause 6A, Act XII of 1919

In the Poisons Act, 1919 (Act XII of 1919), in Section 6, after sub-section (2), clause 6A shall be inserted, namely:-

6A         Cancellation and suspension of licenses

(1)           Where any person is found to have contravened any of the provisions of this Act, or the rules in respect of any poison and the contravention is of such a nature that the import, export, manufacture or sale of any poison by such person is, in the opinion of the licensing authority, likely to endanger public health, that authority may, after giving such person an opportunity of being heard, cancel the license to make, manufacture, distribute, sell and import  poison issued to that person or suspend such license for a specified period.”

11.          Amendment of Section 8, Act XII of 1919

In the Poisons Act, 1919 (Act XII of 1919), in Section 8, after sub-section (3), the following new sub-section (4) shall be added namely:-

“(4)         The rules made under this Act shall be laid before the Parliament no later than one year from the date of entry into effect of the Acid Control and Acid Crime Prevention Act, 2009.”

——————————————————————–

Feed Back Form; Acid Control & Acid Crime Prevention Bill

Name: _________________                 Organization _________________

Contact Details (Address, Phone & Email Address):__________________

__________________________________________________________

Bangladesh : The Next Step For Acid Survivors Foundation In Partnership With Acid Survivors Trust International.

January 18th, 2010 by Valerie Khan 1 comment »
Left to right, sister Fauzia, from PIMS (Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences) and sister Bilquees from Acid Survivors Foundation at Islamabad airport ready to take off for Bangladesh!

Left to right, sister Fauzia, from PIMS (Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences) and sister Bilquees from Acid Survivors Foundation at Islamabad airport ready to take off for Bangladesh!

Welcome to the second phase of our nurses training chapter in our Capacity Building Programme (CBP)!

Due to security reasons, the British expert team was not allowed to visit Pakistan, therefore, Acid Survivors Trust International and Acid Survivors Foundation organised an external training in cooperation with Acid Survivors Foundation Bangladesh : a good example of how international collaboration can be useful!

With the Support of Zurich Foundation, Fauzia and Bilquees will improve their physiotherapeutic and nursing skills to later on train other nurses back to Pakistan.

This transfer of capacities will eventually benefit burnt patients and will also be evaluated by Dr Jawad and Dr Tariq Iqbal  during the international camp end of March 2010. See you soon for the next update about this Pakistani-Bangladeshi-British adventure!