Throughout history the
use of acid attacks as a form of fear invoking practice has been a
global issue. In 2012, there were about 150 reported cases and many more cases
went unreported because the victims are more often than not women. Despite the
historical prevalence of these acid attacks many countries still do
not have any policies against them. It wasn't until last year that Pakistan
amended their penal codes specifying acid attacks as an individual crime that
people were convicted on a larger scale. Until this amendment was made, the
attackers would be tried for attempted murder, a crime that they were not being
convicted of because the attackers showed little interest in killing, mainly
maiming their victims. One highly publicized case in Pakistan was the attack of
the 13 year of Sidra Yasmeen. She was burned with acid by the mother and
brother of a friend as an attempt to keep her quiet about an attempted rape. 2
years and 6 surgeries later Yasmeen's case has finally been closed, her
attackers found guilty and receiving jail time. Much like the other
victims of acid attacks, Yasmeen is still in a lot of pain and deals with her
physical scars and pain on a daily basis.
Until the integration of
the 2012 bill only about 6% of all cases of acid attacks ended with a guilty
verdict, by the end of last year that conviction rate had skyrocketed to nearly
18%. While this increase in conviction is positive for anyone who is
the victim of an acid attack, many women do not feel
safe. Because there is such a negative perception of women throughout
the middle east there is concern that with the increased publicity of women's
rights, conditions may become worse for them. There is a concern that attacks
such as these will continue. Until the global perspectives of women's rights
and the protection of these rights have increased it is feared that conditions
for women will worsen, especially in the middle east.
Caroline Dawkins
4/4/2013
9:15 pm
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