Saturday, March 31, 2012

Acid Survivors Trust International

Acid violence is the deliberate use of acid to attack another human being. The victims of acid violence are overwhelmingly women and children, and attackers often target the head and face in order to maim, disfigure and blind. The act rarely kills but causes severe physical, psychological and social scarring, and victims are often left with no legal recourse, limited access to medical or psychological assistance, and without the means to support themselves. Acid violence is a worldwide phenomenon that is not restricted to a particular race, religion or geographical location.

Acid Survivors Trust International (ASTI) is the only organisation anywhere whose sole purpose is to work towards the end of acid violence across the world. Recognising the need for local knowledge and expertise in order to combat acid violence effectively, ASTI founded and continues to support the development of five partner organisations in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Pakistan, Nepal and Uganda. It also works with UN agencies, NGOs and strategic partners from across the world to increase awareness of acid violence and develop effective responses at the national and international level.

For more information and to support ASTI's work, please visit http://www.acidviolence.org/ or follow us on Twitter at acid_survivors