Human Rights Violations Against Women

Abstract

Violence against women is an important public health problem with substantial consequences for women's physical, mental, sexual, and repro- ductive health that is increasingly being recognized as a serious human rights abuse.1,2 The problem is deeply embedded in cultures around the world, although its manifestation differs from one society to another. One of the most serious forms of violence targeted against women is acid violence. This type of violence has been endemic in Bangladesh for decades, and it has been increasingly identified in neighboring South Asian coun- tries.3 As noted by the Executive Director of the Survivors Foundation (ASF) in Bangladesh, Acid is used because men don't want to kill, they want to disfigure. burns can erode the skin and other tissues down to the bone, often requiring expensive medical care and treatment. Victims often do not report incidents to law enforcement authorities for fear of retaliation from the perpetrators. People in the community often do not help the victims for fear of harassment from the perpetrators, who may be more socially powerful than the victims. Despite the serious consequences of this problem, scientific literature on acid violence is scant. Here, we briefly review the available data, predominately from nonscientific literature, on the magnitude of the problem in Bangladesh, and discuss causes, consequences, and possible next steps in effectively addressing this severe health problem and human rights abuse.