Princess Anne lauds Pakistan’s courage to check acid violence

 

Acid Crime Prevention Bill soon: Hasan

 

London: HRH Princess Royal Princess Anne has commended the courage of Government of Pakistan for acknowledging the need to support victims of acid violence-a difficult subject to deal socially. Addressing a  charity reception at the Pakistan High Commission  to mark the fifth year of partnership between Acid Survivors Foundation in Pakistan( ASFP)  and Acid Survivors Trust International (ASTI)  the Princess Royal  who is also patron  of ASTI said that the High Commissioner of Pakistan had demonstrated the  support of his country  for acid  survivors, by holding the event at the High Commission . Indicating  worldwide lack of social response towards issue of  acid  violence and support to the victims  Princess Anne said that the very step of  speaking about  it  could be termed as matter of  great  courage  and Pakistan has very well  demonstrated  it.

 

The Princess Royal shared her experiences of ASTI in various countries pointing out that not everybody recognizes that acid violence is a global issue. “We need cooperation from every country, the social response is not that good as people don’t speak much about it” she added.

 

This was for the first time that a member of Royal family attended an event at the Pakistan High Commission. The event succeeded in drawing attention of those who could contribute in promoting the cause as prominent personalities and business entrepreneurs including Sir Anwar Pervez, James Caan, Lord Qurban Hussain, doctors, nurses along with members and Chairman of ASTI Dr.  John Morrison attended the occasion  

 

Chairperson Acid Survivors Foundation in Pakistan Valerie Khan Yousafzai threw light in developments on the direction of preventing acid violence and steps being taken by the government of Pakistan for developing a legislative framework. She informed that an acid attack case was successfully taken to the Supreme Court of Pakistan in 2009 by ASF. Subsequently, the Chief Justice of Pakistan gave the first Pakistani court decision publicly and officially requesting the Government of Pakistan to formulate a relevant legal framework to deal with the issue of acid violence in Pakistan.

 

A national consultation process in now taking place for Acid Control & Acid Crime Prevention Bills to be tabled in the national and provincial assemblies with the support of Ministries of Women Development , Health,  Interior, Industries  and Production ,National Commission on Status of Women as well as a range of UN agencies, and the civil society.

 

About the achievements of ASFP Ms. Khan informed that the Foundation has established the only nursing care and rehabilitation unit (NCRU) for burn survivors in Pakistan as well as the only child protection program for burn survivors. 386 surgeries and associated procedures were performed and, 66 legal cases followed up by ASF legal unit. “There is still a long way to go to ensure eradication of acid violence in Pakistan as acid attacks are increasing:  48 cases of acid attacks were reported in 2009, 69 in 2010, 18 from January till February 2011 about 150 acid attacks occur each year in Pakistan, but we are confident that the Pakistani government along with its citizens will continue its efforts to propose and support an acid crime bill and acid control acts at provincial level” she added.

 

The High Commissioner for Pakistan to the UK Mr. Wajid Shamsul Hasan reiterated   that the government of Pakistan has a deep commitment to eradicate any violence and especially violence against women and that the  Ministry of Women Development was   working with ASF-P and the UNIFEM to bring the Acid Crime Prevention Bill before the National Assembly of Pakistan

 

He said that efforts were being made in Pakistan with the international development assistance and by engaging civil society to effectively combat and eradicate this dreadful crime. 

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He acknowledged the contribution of ASTI and ASF in creating awareness in Pakistan about the problem and providing support services to the victims   He said that ASTI’s engagement with Pakistan started a little over five years ago and has come a long way since then through its  unique experience of working with the local population to combat acid violence effectively.

 

 

March 16, 2011

 

 

Last updated: 17 March 2011