Acid Survivors Pakistan » gender justice

2nd Consultation On Acid Crime And Prevention Bill Through Photos.

Valerie Khan — Sun, 25 Jul 2010 20:08:04 +0000

Dr Fauzia Saeed from The national Commission on The Status of Women

Sana recalling Naila's fight for justice and the historical decision of the Chief Justice of Pakistan.

Fahmida Iqbal from UNIFEM recalling the CEDAW guidelines before critically reviewing the outline of the new bill.

lawyers at work!

Survivors also present to say what they want!

Justice Nasira Iqbal expressing her views and demanding a law against acid violence.

Event Report: Sister Bilquees, In-Charge Of ASF NCRU Participates In FPAP Training On Gender Based Violence,

Valerie Khan — Sat, 10 Jul 2010 13:11:53 +0000

GENDER BASED VIOLENCE SCREENING

JUNE- 29^TH AND 30TH

SANGAM HOTEL MUZAFFARABAD

EVENT REPORT

BACKGROUND RAHNUMA- FAMILY PLANNING ASSOCIATION OF PAKISTAN:

Rahnuma started serving poor and marginalized people of Pakistan as the Family Planning Association of Pakistan (FPAP) way back in 1953, as one of the pioneers in providing family planning services and advocating for the small family norm. The government later embraced the cause by establishing the Ministry of Population Welfare in 196-. In about a decade, Rahnuma -FPAP had grown up from one-room operation at Karachi, Lahore and Dhaka to an infrastructure of district branches with model clinics and information centers extending the message to men and women. It expanded its work through community based infrastructure by establishing the family welfare centers in urban and rural areas. Now the organization has the biggest infrastructure by an NGO in Pakistan, which consists of the Family Welfare Centers, Family Health Hospitals, Focus Area Programs and a wide network of referrals from the private practitioners. Rahnuma – FPAP has also pioneered in the concepts of social marketing of contraceptives, family welfare centers and reproductive health services.

Rahnuma has been working on various innovative programs to increased access of people to quality and affordable health services, advocate for a right-based agenda, empowering the communities, especially the women and young girls, and strengthen the civil society in Pakistan. To meet these ends, the organization widened its scope to cover sexual and reproductive health of the whole family as an offshoot of organizational concern for the total well being of women, children, families and communities, after the 1994’s International Conference on Population and Development, in Cairo. Rahnuma is also working on its poverty alleviation program, as the health and wellbeing of people is directly linked with the socio-economic conditions.
As the organization has celebrated over fifty years of momentous achievements and encouraging history, its name did not reflect the scope of its work. So FPAP renamed itself to ‘Rahnuma’, which means a guide for development and prosperity. The change in name and logo was an outcome of a management review, in which a comprehensive analysis of management and human resource was done to enhance the organizational capacity for meeting its development agenda and serving the communities in a better way. Currently, Rahnuma is working on its strategic framework of 5 A’s that include: Adolescents and catering to their needs; combating HIV/AIDS; minimizing the risk of unsafe Abortions; increasing Access to services, particularly for the poor and the marginalized; and Advocacy for the Rights.

Vision:
Rahnuma – FPAP to lead a right based movement using the ICPD holistic development paradigm which strengthens family well being, enables empowerment of women, supports youth and protects children.

Mission:
Rahnuma – FPAP is committed to :-

Promoting Family Planning and Sexual & Reproductive Health as a basic human right.
Providing sustainable and quality sexual & reproductive health and family planning services to men, women and youth in partnership with government, NGOs and civil society.
Improving the quality of life of the poor and marginalized.

RATIONALE:

Holding of two-days training for Service Providers (LHVs/LHWs) at Muzaffarabad Azad Jammu and Kashmir for “Institutional Strengthening and Awareness Raising to Combat Extreme Forms of Gender Based Violence against Women (particular in Burn Cases)”

Project on Gender Based Violence was started in May 2009 in the Districts of Muzaffarabad, Bhimber, Bagh and Mirpur of AJ&K, Gujrat ,Gujranwala and Sialkot of Punjab while Mansehra and Abbottabad of N.W.F.P., with financial assistance of United Nation Office for Project Service(UNOPS).

The purpose to conduct the Gender Based Violence (GBV) Screening training is that the service providers are involved in the protocol development process because routine screening may require changes to patient flow or clinic procedures, and because providers are ideally positioned to judge whether the protocol will be feasible and efficient. In this regard, two-days training of Service Providers (LHVs/LHWs) was held at Muzaffarabad AJ&K.

OBJECTIVE OF THE CONSULTATION:

Identifying, strengthening and improving the implementation of the existing legislation with the help of LHVs/LHWS and other medical experts and to enable them to record the statement or the dying declaration of the burnt patient. In case the patient or the family cannot register a FIR. and give acid burn survivors access to comprehensive rehabilitation services, to guarantee & safeguard their basic human rights in line with the Constitution of Pakistan and International Conventions such as CEDAW, CRC.

EVENT DETAILS:

1. INTRODUCTION, BACKGROUND AND EVENT OBJECTIVES:

The DHO Muzaffarabad gave a welcome speech to all the participants in which he not only explaining the agenda of the screening meeting & the role of participants but also encouraged them to continue showing interest.

Dr. Anjum gave a detailed introduction and explained the tasks of everyone. Participants were assigned partners who they later introduced. He also distributed stationery and relevant accessories which signified strong social messages such as ‘’Zero tolerance against violence’’.

PRESENTATION

Ms. Asiya Parveen, National Project Manager, explained the purpose and the expectation that the host team had. She also briefed the participants about sec 174 (A) which informed them about the new law change stating that a Grade 17 Medical Officer can in the absence of a police officer, record the statement of the patient. She showed a case study regarding two victims and asked us what possible psychological effects the violence may have caused. She also explained that FPAP with the support of UNDP UNOPS DFID Gender Justice & Protection (GJP) Project title ‘Gender Based Violence’ is in the process of sensitizing medical staff to record the dying declaration of a burn patient under the existing legislation.

Dr. Asma Hasnat explained about the possible health outcomes of gender based violence and the emergency management of such reports.

Dr. Anjum and Dr. Asma conducted an activity in which ten participants were selected and given roles to present a scenario of violence and the problems attached to it. Rest of the participants were asked to identify the problems in relation to crimes related to Gender Based Violence and Domestic Violence.

They also displayed a Hope Tree on the Notice Board in which all participants had written down their hopes and expectations for the eradication of all forms of violence.

We also discussed the risks attached to helping survivors of gender based violence and how we can overcome these risks.

In the end there was a question-answer session taken by UNDP Representative, Mr. Zishan Ahmed and certificates were awarded to all participants.

LEARNING OUTCOMES

Patients’ confidentially and privacy is of vital importance.
Sensitized about the new legislation and responsibility of medical officers.
Responsibility of service providers.

ACCPB Legal Consultation Report.

Valerie Khan — Sat, 10 Jul 2010 12:52:36 +0000

studious lawyers

EVENT REPORT

LAWYERS’ CONSULTATION ON ACID CONTROL & ACID CRIME PREVENTION BILL.

JUNE 24 2010

BEST WESTERN HOTEL

ISLAMABAD.

EVENT REPORT

BACKGROUND:

Acid Survivors Foundation (ASF) is a Pakistani, non-profit organization working since 2006 to eradicate acid violence from Pakistan, and to promote the human rights of acid burn and other burn survivors, through a peaceful democratic process. It was officially registered in August 2007 under Voluntary Social Welfare Agencies(Registration and Control) Ordinance 1961.

1.1. Goal and directives of the organization

Acid Survivors Foundation (ASF) Pakistan has aimed for a four-component approach;

To stop acid violence and prevent the proliferation of attacks
To ensure survivors have the best available medical treatment in the long run as well
To ensure survivors get justice, enjoy their human rights in accordance with Pakistani constitution and provide legal support to survivors.
To assist the survivors in their rehabilitation process and provide rehabilitation services, including counseling and welfare support, skills training and income generating activities so that they survivors end up as proactive, empowered and autonomous citizens.

1.2. ASF standing

At the regional and global levels, ASF receives the benefit of support and advice from the UK-based organization, Acid Survivors Trust International ASTI (www.asti.org).
ASF-Pak is also an active member of EVAW (Eradication of Violence against Women) Alliance in Pakistan.
ASF Pakistan has successfully completed a project with UNDP, UNOPS & DFID, Gender Justice and Protection (GJP) project.
ASF Pakistan is coordinating and being supported by UNIFEM, UNDP, INGAD & Civil Society Organizations for holding consultations over the Acid Control & Acid Crime Prevention Bill 2010 so that it can successfully become an Act of Parliament at a national and provincial level.

1.3. Achievements of ASF

Establishment of a Nursing Care & Rehabilitation Unit (NCRU), the only Nursing Care Rehabilitation Unit for burn victims in Pakistan.
Establishment of a Victim Notification Unit.
The current statistics depict that acid violence prevails in majority areas among the citizens of Pakistan mostly in domestic settings and against women & girls (59% as per the ASF Notification Unit).
304 burn victims identified.
86 patients treated.
256 admissions (including 174 surgical interventions).
Psychological counseling of all the patients.
Provision of legal referrals, aid and support (42 Cases till date as per the ASF Legal Support Report 2009)
Provision of socio-economic support & rehabilitation.
First acid attack case taken to the Supreme Court of Pakistan (2009) based on a suo moto action taken by the Chief Justice, making it the first Pakistani Court Decision ever (November 20, 2009) publicly and officially, requesting the Government of Pakistan to formulate the relevant legal framework to deal with the issue of acid violence in Pakistan.
A national consultation process over the Acid Control & Acid Crime Prevention Bill 2010 (as tabled in National Assembly on January 26, 2010) with the support of UNIFEM, UNDP, INGAD and civil society organizations.

RATIONALE:

Acid violence is a global phenomenon highly present in South Asia. Acid violence is a particularly atrocious form of violence, usually occurring, with regard to Pakistan, in domestic settings and most often directed against women. Acid is cheap and freely available in cotton-growing districts of Pakistan, particularly in the Seraiki belt of southern Punjab and Northern Sindh. It is used as a tool of violence, usually directed at the face of the victim.

Acid can be thrown for a variety of reasons such as family feuds, land dispute, refusal of marriage, suspected infidelity or rejection of a sexual advance. The effects of acid violence include serious physical harm such as loss of eyes and limbs, corrosion of organs, and subsequent infections as well as social ostracism. Throwing acid on someone, therefore, not only means destroying their face but also their life. Despite the horrific nature of this crime, to date there are very few services available for victims. According to ASF Notification Unit (2009), 304 burn cases have been notified till date out of which 290 are acid attack cases.

Recently, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Pakistan, Mr. Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry took a suo moto action in an acid attack case and ordered the Government to pass legislation related to acid violence and acid trade as done by Bangladesh in 2002. He also ordered the Government to provide free medical care and rehabilitation facilities of acid burn survivors in Pakistan, in addition to acknowledging the work of ASF Pakistan.

ASF with the support of UNIFEM & Ministry of Women Development is in the process of holding a series of consultations on the proposed Acid Control and Acid Crime Prevention Bill with legal experts and activists. This will be done in close coordination with EVAW Alliance and GRAP. It will be an important tool to safeguard the rights of acid burn survivors against this atrocious and heinous crime and will go a long way for an Acid Violence Free Pakistan!

OBJECTIVE OF THE CONSULTATION:

Identify strengths and improving areas in the proposed legislation with the help of lawyers and legislative experts to establish an efficient legal framework which would regulate and monitor acid trade, punish perpetrators, and give acid burn survivors access to comprehensive rehabilitation services, to guarantee & safeguard their basic human rights in line with the Constitution of Pakistan and International Conventions such as CEDAW, CRC.

EVENT DETAILS:

1. INTRODUCTION, BACKGROUND AND EVENT OBJECTIVES:

Ms. Valerie Khan, Chairperson, Acid Survivors Foundation (ASF) Pakistan, gave a welcome speech to all the participants explaining the agenda of the consultation meeting & the role of participants in this meeting. Participants were also asked to introduce themselves.

She explained that the Acid Control & Acid Crime Prevention Bill was previously passed as a ‘Private Member Bill’ by Women Parliamentarians, Ms. Marvi Memon, Ms. Anushay Rehman and Begum Shenaz Wazir Ali, but due to the shortcomings in this Bill it could not be taken up to the Senate. By virtue of this consultation, we would not only critically assess the loopholes in this Bill but would also discuss the recommendations for the new draft of the Bill, which would then be presented in the National Assembly by the Ministry of Women Development (MoWD) as a ‘Government Bill’.

2. PRESENTATION OF THE ACID BURN PHENONMENON

Ms. Sana Masood, Head of Projects & Legal Coordinator, Acid Survivors Foundation, explained the Acid Burn Phenomenon in Pakistan, which is prevalent in the Seraiki/Cotton Belt. Acid in these areas is largely used for agricultural uses, but has other uses as well, such as industrial, commercial and domestic uses. Due to weak licensing and monitoring mechanisms acid is freely and widely available to the general public which is why in most cases acid is used as a tool of violence, especially in cases of domestic disputes (48% as per ASF Statistics 2009). Other reasons are refusal of marriage proposal, indecent or sexual advance (25%), in which the face of the victim is usually targeted with acid. This may cause permanent disfigurement, loss of limbs, loss of eyesight and even death. Majority of the victims are women but men and children have also been a target of this heinous form of violence. Men usually get attacked due to money disputes or professional animosities. Children, are often the collateral damage of acid attacks on their parents or siblings, or if they are present in the same vicinity at the time of the acid attack.

She also explained that acid violence is a global phenomenon and is also occurring in Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Cambodia, Uganda, Columbia, UK, etc. However, these countries including Pakistan have realized the need for specific legislation dealing with acid violence & acid trade, and are working towards it.

3. PRESENTATION BY LEGAL CONSULTANT

Barrister Naveed Khan, Legal Consultant working with ASF and UNIFEM to draft the new Bill, gave a speech regarding the current legislation in Pakistan and the flaws in the Bill presented in the National Assembly on January 26 2010. He also referred to the Chief Justice’s Decision and expressed the need to incorporate the clause related to free medical care and rehabilitation for acid burn survivors in the new Bill, and the need to establish a licensing mechanism to monitor and regulate acid trade.

He directed the lawyers to first critically analyze & assess this Bill in groups of three and four, and then noted down all criticisms group-wise.

After the tea break, the second part of the consultation substantially focused on the recommendations for the new Bill. A set of questions were distributed to all the participants in order to discuss the mechanisms and solutions for different issues pertaining to acid violence in Pakistan. All recommendations for the new draft discussed at the consultation were duly recorded in writing by the ASF team and the Legal Consultant.

At the end of meeting, the ASF team thanked the participants for their contributions and welcomed detailed feedbacks over email. Ms. Valerie Khan also made an announcement of the Second Consultation on the Bill with CBOs, NGOs, Human Rights Activists, Stakeholders and Lawyers which is due end of July 2010.

An Article From Zofeen Ibrahim, In Australia.To News

Valerie Khan — Thu, 03 Jun 2010 19:32:33 +0000

PAKISTAN: Women Intensify Push to Pass Law Against Acid Attacks

Monday, 31 May 2010 12:36

Written by Zofeen Ebrahim

KARACHI, Pakistan, May 31 (IPS) - Almost seven years after Naila Farhat, 20, became another victim of an acid
throwing attack by a spurned suitor, she is finally seeing more vigorous efforts
toward the passage of a law seeking to amend existing legislation to reinforce
protection of women against violent assaults.

Farhat is the first to admit, though, that beneath her physical scars is a
smoldering anger that refuses to be pacified until she has exacted vengeance
against her violators.

”I want him to be doused in acid so he can feel not just the searing pain but
live with disfigurement day after day, for the rest of his life,” she said of her
main assailant over telephone from Layyah, a town in the southern part of
Punjab province.

Yasmeen Rehman, advisor to the prime minister on women’s development
and a legislator, told IPS that the Ministry of Women Development (MoWD)
was doing further research on a draft law against acid attacks.

”It is seeking help from the Acid Survivors Foundation (ASF) and the United
Nations Development Fund for Women, she said.

The ASF, in turn, is getting assistance from its parent organisation in Britain
and Cornell Law School in the United States, said Sana Masood, a lawyer
working with the Foundation, which provides medical, psychosocial,
socioeconomic and legal aid to acid survivors. ”We are currently involved in
extensive research to help the MoWD in coming up with another bill,” she
revealed

”Realistically speaking, I should say we will be able to present it in the
(legislative) assembly by July,” said Rehman

In November 2009, six years after Farhat filed a case against her perpetrators
ū a tailor and her elementary science teacher, who acted as an accomplice ū
Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhary urged the
government to pass a new law that would restrict the sale of industrial
strength acid and increase the punishment for acid attacks.

This came with his landmark verdict upholding the original lower court ruling
sentencing Farhat’s violators to 12 years in prison and ordering them to pay
1.25 million rupees (about 14,775 dollars) in damages.

Chaudhary also announced that the government would shoulder the cost of
her healthcare and educational needs.

Farhat said she decided to bring her case to the Supreme Court late last year
after the lower courts released one of her assailants, her former teacher, and
lowered the prime perpetrator’s sentence to four years and his fine to
110,000 rupees (1,300 dollars).

”The teacher bribed the judge and got himself released the very same day,”
she said.

Following the Supreme Court’s ruling, three women parliamentarians filed a
”hurriedly drafted” bill, as Masood described it, seeking to amend existing
laws on violence against women.

”It does not seem to be a priority within the legislative assembly and has yet
to be taken up for discussion,” said Marvi Memon, one of the bill’s principal
authors.

Masood said the bill in its present form is inadequate, because it ”is
discriminatory and caters only to women and children when our findings
show that 39 percent of victims are males.” Men are also in danger of acid
attack, she said, usually as a result of issues like property disputes, financial
problems and professional jealousies, she said.

Furthermore, she said, the bill does not clearly define the ”role of the law
enforcement agencies or mechanisms for regulating and monitoring acid
trade,” said Masood.

Some female legislators, on the other hand, have dismissed the need for a
new law protecting women against violent assaults such as acid throwing.

”I think we’re already over-legislated,” said member of Parliament Nafisa
Shah. ”The laws are there. What is needed is strict enforcement of the
existing ones,” she said.

Rehman said ”special and specific laws are needed in a country where
violence against women is on the rise.” In an earlier interview with Agence
France-Presse, ASF’s Masood said they recorded 48 cases of acid attacks in
2009, up from 30 in 207.

Shahnaz Bokhari, president of the Islamabad-based Progressive Women’s
Association, which assists victims of domestic violence, said she has
supported 8,886 acid attack female survivors since 1994.

The incidence of acid attacks is particularly high in the southern part of
Punjab, the south Asian country’s cotton belt and second largest province,
said Khan.

”Lack of a regulating and monitoring framework regarding acid, cheap price,
low level of socio-economic development” are some of the factors underlying
these crimes, said Khan.

A bottle of concentrated sulphuric acid generally costs only 20 Pakistani
rupees per litre (about 23 U.S. cents), said Bokahari.

”Acid is used for textile industry and cleaning cotton seeds before being
replanted,” explained Khan, whose organisation has provided medical,
psychosocial, socioeconomic and legal aid to about 300 acid Punjab-based
survivors since 2006 when it was formed.

While Farhat has been unrelenting in her quest for justice, some victims are
afraid of taking action against their perpetrators.

Forty-something Naeema Begum, whose husband threw acid in her face
when he divorced her in 200,4 said, ”I don’t want to take him to court; I’m
scared he may take my kids away from me as revenge,” she said.

”Most have been threatened into silence,” said Bokhari. Their scars are not
just physical, she said. ”They go much deeper.”

Farhat sees beyond her disfigured body, her spirit resolute as ever to find
justice, which has not been so elusive, after all. A new law is in the offing and
her perpetrator is in jail. At the moment, though, six months since the CJP’s
directive, she has yet to receive the promised financial assistance.

When A Woman Speaks…

Valerie Khan — Thu, 03 Jun 2010 19:09:42 +0000

A woman activist delivering her speech in Multan at GJP final consultation.

A press articles showing all the women activists who had attended the consultation to say no to acid violence and urge the Pakistani government to pass a relevant law to regulate and monitor acid sale and punish the perpetrators and facilitate victims' rehabilitation.

Acid attack spreading…

Valerie Khan — Fri, 07 May 2010 03:56:39 +0000

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Page last updated at 08:38 GMT, Friday, 30 April 2010 09:38 UK

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Acid attack on Pakistani sisters in Balochistan

Campaigners there are up to 150 acid attacks every year

Three sisters have suffered serious facial burns after two unidentified men on a motorbike threw acid at them in Pakistan’s Balochistan province.

The sisters, aged between 14 and 20 years old, were attacked as they walked from Kalat city to Pandarani village – one is still in a serious condition.

Political activists held a protest in Kalat shortly after the attack.

There are no reliable statistics, but campaigners say there may be 150 acid attack victims in Pakistan each year.

The police named the girls as Fatima Bibi, 20, Saima Bibi, 16 and Sakina Bibi, 14.

They were taken to a government hospital in Kalat, but Fatima Bibi was later shifted to a hospital in the provincial capital, Quetta.

No arrests have been made as yet.

Two weeks ago, an unknown group – the Baloch Ghairatmand Group (the Honourable Baloch Group) – claimed responsibility for a similar attack on two women in a market in Dalbandin city.

The group had warned women to wear the hijab, the traditional Muslim headscarf, and not to visit markets unaccompanied by men from their families.

The attack was criticised by Balochistan’s political leaders as well as armed rebel groups, who said it had been carried out by elements that wanted to push the Baloch people back in time.

Acid Survivors Foundation : On The Media Road Again!

Valerie Khan — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 18:52:09 +0000

Tauseeq Haider asking questions to Valerie Khan Yusufzai about ASF work

Valerie Khan Yusufzai, ready to explain ASF work and goals.

Nadeem Mehmood, GJP project manager, presenting UNDP GJP project and the challenges faced.

Dr Khadija, ASF psychotherapist and Nazeeran ready to fight for the cause!