Acid attacks are still common in many countries and this subject needs more attention from the international community. Governments need to be pressured to make stronger laws and ones that are actually enforced. People need to understand that these attacks are never, ever excusable. Communities need to learn that the survivors of these attacks are not to blame and are to be treated with dignity, respect and compassion.
These are a few of the thousands of people who have been attacked by acid. The woman are almost always attacked because they scorned the advances of potential partner or turned down a marriage proposal. The male survivors were most often burned by a second party in a land or other dispute. There really is NO excuse for attacks like these, so I wont go into the details of each individual's case.
If you are ever attacked with acid or witness an attack here is some advice that will help you minimize the injuries:
1. Immediately wash the acid off! Even if you have to jump into a filthy, dirty lake or river, do it! Get the acid off of yourself or the victim as soon as possible, this will have the greatest effect on how severe the injuries will be.
2. Seek medical attention AFTER washing off as much of the acid as you can.
3. Preserve any evidence and have the police called as soon as possible (having the perpetrators prosecuted will help prevent these attacks in the future.)
The Acid Survivors Foundation
is a really wonderful organization that helps people that have been
attacked with acid. They provide medical care and support as well as
long-term support for the survivors. They have also done more than any
other organization I have seen to educate the community about the plight
of the survivors as well as working with government to strengthen laws
and the push for punishment of perpetrators. If you are in a position
where you can donate money, or even medical items, clothes, vocational
training etc then please consider contacting this organization. You can
find more information here: How To Help
Photographer's Notes: I would like to personally thank all of the acid attack survivors for their kindness and willingness to participate in this project. It is my hope that these images will help bring awareness to this subject and that, in there future, there will be far fewer people affected by this problem.
On a personal note it was a pleasure to meet all of you. I only had time to visit a few of you in your homes and meet your families but that was a wonderful experience and I thank you for being so kind. I hope that more people in your communities will see you the way that I see you, as wonderful, kind, strong and intelligent human beings. I am proud to call you my friends!!
