Acid attacks: UN Women crucial to end mutilation of women

21/01/2011 16:44:00

Leading international development charity, VSO, welcomes the Bangladeshi Government’s decision to restrict the sales of acid, however it warns that more action is urgently needed to address abuse and mutilation of women in Bangladesh. The Bangladeshi Government announced yesterday that it will restrict the sale of acid in a bid to curb the number of violent attacks against mostly women and girls, where acid is thrown at the victim’s face, body and/or genitals causing permanent disfigurement and scarring.

While the new restrictions are an important step, VSO warns that Bangladeshi women will continue to be the victims of abuse and violence, with this issue highlighting the urgent need for UN Women. If properly funded, UN Women can deliver programmes that will reduce violence against women and hold governments’ to account to improve women’s rights and lives.

Acid attacks happen every two days in Bangladesh despite the death penalty with women that have spurred marriage proposals, sexual advances or upset their husbands the most likely victims.

Kathy Peach, Head of External Affairs at VSO said:

“Acid attacks are disturbingly common and their regularity reflects the poor status of women in Bangladeshi society. Whilst curbing the sale of acid is a step forward, it doesn’t address the underlying problem and much more needs to be done to address the abuse and mutilation of women, women’s poor social status and their lack of rights. If UN Women fails to be adequately funded, women will continue to be the victim of violent and disfiguring abuse in countries like Bangladesh and elsewhere.”

Ends

Case studies and professional photography are available with the following Bangladesh victims of acid attacks:

• Onima, whose husband poured battery acid on her vagina because she refused to work as a prostitute.
• Rupia, a widow who has been threatened by land grabbers, because they know a single woman will be too scared to stand up to them.
• Gonga, who was married at 12, and divorced at 13 because her husband did not think she was pretty enough.

Among women aged between 15 and 44 acts of violence cause more death and disability than cancer, malaria, traffic accidents and war combined.

To preview photography please visit http://simonrawles.photoshelter.com/gallery/Acid-attack-survivors/G0000jNbc21sekUI/

Kathy Peach, Head of External Affairs at VSO is available for interview. For more information please contact Louise Hill on louise.hill@vso.org.uk, 0208 780 7410, 07500918478.

Editor's notes

• UN Women is the opportunity of a generation to lift millions of women out of poverty however it already has a massive funding shortfall. Its success is dependent on strong and immediate financial support from the UK government. Make the world a better place for women by signing up to be a UN Godmother at www.thegodmothers.org.uk
• VSO is an international development charity that works through volunteers. Since 1958 over 44,000 volunteers have worked in over 120 countries. Today there are over 1600 international volunteers working in 42 countries around the world.