Issue 27, June 2011 msL¨v 27, ˆR¨ô 1418 ˆÎgvwmK evZ©v GwmW mvifvBfvim dvD‡Ûkb

GwmW mwnsmZvi wei“‡×GwmW mvifvBfvim dvD‡Ûkb-GiGK hy‡Mi c_ cwiμgv

Acid Survivors Foundationcompletes twelve years in fightagainst acid violence

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i¨vwj †k‡l mKvj 11:30Uvq weqvg wgjbvqZ‡b mKj †m±‡ii cÖwZwbwa‡`i mv‡_ GwmW mvifvBfvi‡`i GK

-Gi ev‡iv eQ‡ii c_ cwiμgvi BwZnvm GwmW mvifvBfvi Ges GGmGd cÖwZwbwaiv cyuw_ cwi‡ek‡bi gva¨‡g Zz‡j a‡ib| Gici cv‡k _vKvi Rb¨ GGmGd-Gi Dbœqb mn‡hvMx ms ’v‡`i (B‡KGb, wmWv, Gg‡RGd, wRAvB‡RW, A‡÷ªwjqvbGBW, BDwb‡md, WvwbWv, wWGdAvBwW Ges

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Acid Survivor Foundation (ASF) has been working relentlessly to rehabilitate the survivors in the main-stream of the society by giving them medical and legal assistance. It started its journey on 12 May 1999 with the motto of fighting acid violence against women and rehabilitating the survivors.ASF celebrated its twelve-year anniversary on 12 May 2011 and it had to face adversities along the way as it was successful in meeting the challenges they faced. Side by side with the acid survivors, ASF got the civil society, the government, non-governmental organization and the media in meeting those challenges. ASF shared the celebration of their success with all its partners by organizing a rally at the Saarc Foun-tain near Panthonunjo. DFID Country Director Chris Austin, Executive Director of Manusher Jonno Foun-dation Anam, theatre personality Ramendu Majum-der along with many other media personnel were present at the occasion. One hundred and fifty acid survivors were also present there. The rally ended at the BIAM Auditorium.At 11:30am, a conference of the survivors at the BIAM Auditorium was organized with the representatives from all sectors. The representatives of ASF recited the activities of the past twelve years in form of Puthi.

Then the organizers honoured the partners (EKN, Cida, MJF, GIZ, AusAid, Unicef, Danida, DFID and European Commission) for assisting ASF in their work. Acid Survivor representative Lilima Khatun and Asma Akhter and ASF Executive Director Monira Rahman spoke at the occasion. The representatives of the donors, who were honoured, also spoke on the occasion. The programme was chaired by ASF Chairperson Dr. Ifthekharuzzaman. Bangladesh Human Rights Commission Chairman Dr. Mijanur Rahman was the chief guest. In his speech, Dr. Rahman pointed out that even though there are laws in the country they are not implemented. The administration must take serious action on this issue otherwise who knows how long the violence would continue.In twelve years, ASF had been able to identify more than three thousand acid victims. It has given free treatment to at least two thousand of them. Sixty victims from all over Bangladesh were awarded with a cheque of 30,000 taka each. A sum of 18,00,000 taka was given away to the victims on the occasion.An enjoyable cultural programme was arranged in the second half of the day. The daily Prothom Alo carried a special supplement of the event on the occasion. It must be mentioned here that the whole programme was assisted by GTZ and AusAid. There were some demands by the ASF on the occasion of celebration of twelfth year which were:1. The acid throwers should be punished by implementing the existing laws of the country.2. The four crore taka allocated by the govern-ment for acid survivors must be properly distributed.3. The demand to stop acid violence must be coupled with giving proper treatment to the acid survivors by the government and non-government organizations, and they should co-ordinate with each other.

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March 8, 2011 was International Women’s Day. On the eve of the day, on March 7, Monday, the Acid Survivors Foundation [ASF] organized a men’s commitment conference and a cultural show in order to raise public awareness against all forms of atrocities against women including acid violence. The conference and cultural show was organized at 04:30pm at Rabnidra Shorobar in Dhaka’s Dhanmondi area.ASF Executive Director Monira Rahman deliv-ered the welcome speech at this men’s confer-ence, while declaration was announced by theater personality Ramendu Majumder. Vice-Chancellor Dhaka University AAMS Arefin Siddique, former adviser of caretaker govern-ment and Executive Director of Ain O Shalish Kendra Sultana Kamal, Joint Editor of Prothom Alo Abdul Quaiyum, Assistant Representative of UNFPA Nur Mohammad, ASF representative Tamjid Hasan Sulal, actor Afzal Hossain, cricketer Habibul Bashar Suman, singer Shuvra Dev, ASF Chairperson Dr. Iftekharuzzaman, reciters Shimul Mustafa, Ahkamullah; Mohammadullah Palash, President of Acid Merchant Association and ASF Board Member AK Masud Ahmed also spoke in solidarity.

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mfvcwZ Ges G‡K gvmy Avn‡g`, GGmGd †evW© m`m¨|

†hb Sj‡m bv hvq G Rb¨ PvB cyi“l Ges wK‡kvi‡`i m‡PZbZv|

Avš—R©vwZK bvix w`em Dcj‡¶GwmW mvifvBfvim dvD‡Ûk‡bicyi“l‡`i A½xKvimgv‡e‡ki Av‡qvRb

ASF organizesmen’s commitment conferenceon occasion of InternationalWomen’s Day

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The speakers said awareness among men and teenagers so that no more face is disfigured by the onslaught of acid violence. They added that there’s a need for the men to be more proactive in order to prevent all forms of atrocities, includ-ing acid violence, against women.

It’s worthwhile to mention that the first rally in 2002 with active participation by men worked as a milestone when the number of acid victims was 490. The number was the highest at that time. After that, men’s commitment gatherings in the past few years have stirred awareness in all walks of life against acid violence. We have succeeded to bring down the number of acid victims to 153 in 2010. Basically, the objective of this gathering was to express men's solidarity and declare their commitment in stopping all forms of violence, including acid violence. As part of society's conscious section and partner of this movement, more than a thousand men attended the conference. People representing government and non-government sectors, members of the media, teenagers, young men and acid survivors were among them.

The phase to express solidarity ended with the song "O Alor Potho Jatry, Ekhaney Themona [Oh seekers of light, please don't srop here]" along with lighting candles. In the cultural function part, singer Shayan performed a solo show and Abdul Kuddus Boyati sand folk songs. Apart from this, survivor Babli performed dance. It's worthwhile to mention here that these programmes were assisted by Manusher Jonno Foundation and UNFPA.

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evsjv‡`‡ki †gŠjfxevRvi †Rjvi kÖxg½‡j 3 †_‡K 6 GwcÖj 2011 AbywôZ n‡jv `wÿY-c~e© Gwkqvi 12wU †`k †_‡K AvMZ 47 Rb `» welqK we‡klÁ I †meK‡`i GK

`wÿY-c~e© GwkqviA group of 47 burn care experts and burn care providers from 12 South East Asian countries and International participants from Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, Nepal, Srilanka, Afganistan, Canada, Ghana, Nigeria, Uganda, United Kingdom and the United States of America met in Srimongol, Bangladesh from 3rd to 6th April 2011 under the auspices of Interburns and Acid Survivors Foundation, Bangla-desh to consider the practicalities of providing quality burn care in resource limited environments and how to reduce the morbidity and mortality of burn injuries.95% of all burn injuries globally, 70% of these affect-ing children, happen in low and middle income countries. Burn injuries are often referred to as the forgotten public health crisis, in some low income countries burn injuries cause as many deaths as HIV and TB. Those who survive the burn injury are usually left unnecessarily disabled and disfigured.List of ideas in order to improved treatment of the acid survivors were presented on the closing day of the conference. These ideas were accumulated from 12 different countries and if these can be executed accordingly then the acid survivors will be guaran-teed a less time consuming and effective result of the treatment.All the participants shared and debated their expe-riences and ideas while experiencing exquisite Bangladeshi hospitality. As unique as Srimangal's 7 Layered Tea, the event was a great success and will be marked as a landmark for spreading effective quality burn care in developing countries.

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Avš—R©vwZK bvixw`em 2011 Dcj‡¶ MZ 14 I 15 gvP© On 14 and 15 March, a fair to promote equality between men and women was organized on the occasion of International Women’s Day at Bang-abandhu International Conference Centre. The USAID, on its 50th anniversary, had organized this fair titled “Male-female equality in education, science and technology: To ensure women’s development”. State Minister for Women and Children’s Affairs Dr Shirin Sharmin Chowdhury inaugurated the fair. Discussions, painting exhibition, handicraft expo, book fair and drams were organized in this two-day fair which was participated by voluntary and human rights agencies of the country. The Acid Survivors Foundation came up with a stall it presented its activities for eliminating acid violence along with reducing atrocities and discrimination against women. The ASF officials devoted their time at the stall to represent the founda-tion and exchanged views with the visitors through highlighting its activities.

Avš—R©vwZK bvixw`em 2011 Dcj‡¶ A Fair held to promote equalitybetween men and womenfor IWD 2011

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AvÂwjK GwmW mvifvBfvim

GwmW mwnsmZv cÖwZ‡iv‡a

Ges GwmW mwnsmZvi wkKvi

GwmW mvifvBfvim

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The regional conference, organized by Manab Mukti Sanstha [MMS] of acid survi-vors was held in Sirajganj on 27 April 2011 in order to raise awareness against acid violence as well as to ensure respectable status of the victims of the acid violence in the society. The conference, backed by Acid Survivors Foundation and Unicef, was held at Shaheed Shamsuddin

Conference in Sirajganj Deputy Commissioner’s office.A colorful rally, participated by people from all walks of life along with the acid survivors went around the important streets of the town. The rally ended at Deputy Commissioner’s office. The deputy director of Social Welfare Directorate, ABM Mostofa Kamal, inaugurated by the rally.The second phase was a discussion programme and it started after the rally. The Deputy Commissioner, Aminul Islam, spoke as the chief guest. Deputy Director of Social Welfare Directorate ABM Mostofa Kamal, District Disability Affairs official Farzana Taaj and Executive Director of Manab Mukti Sanstha Md. Habibullah Bahar were also among the discussants. Senior Programme Officer Siddiqui Rubel gave a brief presentation of ASF activities. Survivor Runa Laila put forward a set of proposals on behalf of acid survivors. The survivors presented their proposals during the open discussion session.A total of 80 people along with acid survivors participated in the conference.

Press Conference, IWD; Aid Comilla (Comilla) Men Rally, IWD; Agrogoti Sangstha (Satkhira)

Men Rally, IWD; Coast Trust (Bhola) Men Rally, IWD; JCF (Jessore)

Men Rally, IWD; JJS ( Khulna) Men Rally, IWD; Light House (Bogra)

Community Clinic, MMS (Sirajganj) Men Rally, IWD; PAPRI (Narsingdi)

Inauguration of men Rally, IWD; RDRS (Dinajpur) Press Conference, IWD; SUS (Netrokona)

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gwbiv ingv‡biIqvì© wPj‡Wªbm cÖvBR2011 MÖnY

On 28th April 2011, 50 children from 15 countries honoured Monira Rahman, Murha-bazi Namegabe and Cecilia Flores-Oebanda the child right heroes for millions of children at an Award Ceremony at Gripsholm Castle in Marie-fred, Sweden. The big surprise at the

ceremony was that the democracy champion in Burma, Aung San Suu Kyi, became a new patron of the World’s Children’s Prize. H.M. Queen Silvia presented a symbol for this, the World’s Children’s Prize crystal globe, in a ceremony for Aung San Suu Kyi. At the ceremony the children and H.M. Queen Silvia presented the children’s Honorary Award to Monira Rahman from Bangladesh, for her fearless struggle for those – mainly girls – who have been the victims of acid attacks or petrol attacks and whose appearances have been destroyed.

The World’s Children’s Prize, founded in Sweden in 2000, is run annually in collabora-tion with tens of thousands of teachers and hundreds of organisations all over the world. It is considered as Children’s Noble Prize. The patrons of the World's Children's Prize include Nelson Mandela, H.M. Queen Silvia of Sweden, Aung San Suu Kyi and Graça Machel.

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wmjwfqv Zvi nv‡Z Iqvì©m wPj‡WªÝ cÖvB‡Ri cÖZxK GKwU K…÷vj

Kj¨v‡Y wbwf©Kfv‡e KvR Kivi Rb¨ gwbiv ingvb‡K GB cyi¯‹vi

we‡k¦i nvRvi nvRvi wkÿK I kZkZ ms ’vi mn‡hvwMZvq KvR

Democracy watch has awarded theExecutive Director of Acid Survivors

Foundation, Ms. Monira Rahman as awomen achiever-2011 for herdedicated humanitarian work

for acid survivors

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Acid a ack sta s csgender perspec ve

(1999 to 2011, May) Refusal/rejection

of love/marriage/sex

17%

Dowry5%

Family related dispute

6% Marital dispute9%

Land/property/ money dispute

39%Others

11%

Not known13%

Acid a ack sta s cs-reasonsYear-1999 to 2011, May

Interplast Australia isdonating 10 ThousandAustralian dollar'sfor Acid Survivors

National Bank ofPakistan is donating

2 Lacs taka for Acid Survivors

IndividualPhilip, Ruth Dolan, Max Perry, Claudia

OrganizationAmerican International School

Interburns, World Children ForumNational Bank of Pakistan

Inter plast Australia

Acid attack trend (1999 - 2011, May)

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Issue 20, September 2009 msL¨v 27, ˆR¨ô 1418 ˆÎgvwmK evZ©v GwmW mvifvBfvim dvD‡Ûkb

www.banglacommunications.com

Monira RahmanKhaleda Yasmin Eti A K AzadFatema Pervin PutulShafiqul Alam Kiron, A K AzadZakirul Haque, Syed Zakir HossainResearch, Advocacy & Prevention UnitAcid Survivors Foundation

Editorial Section Supported by

Design & Printingwww.acidsurvivors.org

Advisory EditorEditor

Executive EditorManaging Editor

Photography

Coordination & LayoutPublishing Bangla Communications Ltd.

Issue 27, June 2011

Special moments ofSouth-East Asia

Burns careConference