In 2008, three pairs of men circled a girls’ school in Kandahar, Afghanistan and sprayed 11 girls and four teachers with acid. Instantly, upon impact, the acid began to melt their skin, leaving lasting burns and blinding two of the girls. Why were Afghan school girls subjected to such an attack? They dared to receive an education –and they are girls.

While violence against women can take many forms, acid attacks are one of the most barbaric. They have become increasingly common in South Asia and the vast majority of cases are directed toward women. The Acid Survivors Foundation has recorded over 2,200 incidents since 1999, and the total number, including unreported attacks, is likely to be even higher. In 2008, 61 percent of the attacks targeted women, and in 2009 this number rose to 69 percent.

Acid attacks often occur after a woman’s refusal of a man’s sexual advances or offer for marriage. Disputes over dowry or property, and family or domestic disputes also provoke attacks. The attacks occur in societies where women are controlled by men and often carried out when a woman decides that she will no longer be obedient. Perpetrators intend to send a message to the entire female population that will terrorize them back into submission. “At heart is the notion of woman as object, and the exercise of punishment against women who are seen to exercise autonomy or agency,” says Mridula Bandyopadhyay, author and researcher on violence against women in South Asia.

Acid attacks are used to subjugate women and remind them of “their place” for many years to come. Unlike other burns, acid continues to eat away at the skin even once the source is removed and the acid is no longer being poured. Acid melts skin tissue, often exposing parts of bone, and leaves irreparable burns. If acid touches a woman’s eyes or ears, she can loose eyesight and have her hearing impaired. As Bandyopadhyay said, “Permanent physical disfigurement is inescapable.” After the incident, if a woman survives, it is not uncommon for her to become depressed or commit suicide.

Acid is often strategically aimed at a woman’s face to decrease her life opportunities. By disfiguring a woman’s face, a man ensures that she will encounter intense social stigma and will be unlikely to get married or remarried. A woman’s physical disfigurement prevents her from getting a job, leaving her as a burden to her family. The intended impact of hindering prospects for marriage illustrates how dependent women in these societies are on men. As Bandyopadhyay said, “Acid attacks emphasize women’s extreme dependency on men, and serve as a warning to many women who might resist male authority.”

Acid attacks are a relatively recent phenomenon, with the earliest recorded incidents in Bangladesh in 1983. They have become possible as acidic products became household items. In Bangladesh, hydrochloric acid is sold as a toilet cleaner and a gallon can be purchased for just a few dollars, and in India and Pakistan a similar chemical concentrate is used for sterilizing kitchens and bathrooms. Since acid is inexpensive and easily accessible, it has increasingly become the weapon of choice.

Bangladesh has begun taking steps toward preventing acid burnings, but has not adequately addressed the problem due to a lack of implementation. The Bangladeshi parliament passed the Acid Control Act of 2002, which regulated the production, sale and use of the substance and gave a three to 10 year prison term for illegal use. Otherwise, there seem to be few restrictions within Asia to prevent access to acid.

Still, there seems to be gradual progress. In India, Home Minister Sabitha Indra Reddy said on July 18 that she plans to introduce new legislation that would create a minimum seven year sentence for perpetrators of acid attacks against women. Until countries take the threat of acid seriously, and create strong legislation that is followed by strict enforcement, women will continue to be threatened by a household item which could at any moment be used to silence their voices.

Book: Violence Against Women in Asian Societies

Acid Survivors statistics

Acid violence in Bangladesh

Acid Attacks on Women in India Prompt Protests

Nicholas Kristof on Acid Attacks

‘Law to curb acid attacks against women soon’