Chief Executive Officer at Acid Survivors Trust International at Acid Survivors Trust International (ASTI) - London, England, United Kingdom
Acid violence is the deliberate use of acid to attack another person. It is a form of gender based violence as it affects women disproportionally.Acid attacks are usually carried out on the face - causing maiming, disfigurement and blindness. Attacks cause almost indescribable pain, permanent disfigurement and devastating psychological consequences.A survivor needs immediate specialist medical treatment, sanctuary, reconstructive surgery, follow up physiotherapy, counselling and long-term support to rebuild their life. Often, survivors require dozens of surgical procedures with child victims needing extra long-term specialist care from paediatric surgeons (reconstructive and ophthalmic), physiotherapists and counsellors – specialist skills that are often lacking in many countries in which acid violence is prevalent.ASTI is a UK registered charity (no. 1079290) and the only international organisation whose solepurpose is to end acid violence at a global level. ASTI was founded in 2002, helped to set up and now works with a network of six Acid Survivors Foundations in Bangladesh, Cambodia, India, Nepal, Pakistan and Uganda that it has helped to form. ASTI has helped provide medical expertise and training to our partners, raised valuable funds to support survivors of acid attacks and helped change laws.