The Unseen Struggles of Acid Attack Survivors: Shaheen Malik's Fight for Justice

An Uphill Battle for Justice

In the face of societal stigma and legal obstacles, Shaheen Malik stands resilient as a beacon of hope for acid attack survivors in India. Recently, she petitioned India's Supreme Court to amend the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016, to include survivors who were forced to ingest acid, a crucial step toward justice that many advocates have long argued for.

“For survivors of forced acid ingestion, the disfigurement is internal and hence not as obvious. But their lives are extremely challenging,” Malik asserts, highlighting a significant gap in the legal protections available to victims.

The Statistics Tell a Disturbing Tale

Acid attacks in India have risen alarmingly, with the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) reporting 207 cases in 2023, up from 176 in 2021. Yet, the conviction rates are troublingly low, with many cases dragging through the courts for years. According to recent reports, only 43 of the 703 pending trials in 2023 were resolved. This stark reality illustrates not just a failure of the legal system, but a broader societal neglect of acid attack survivors.

The Grievous Toll on Survivors

Malik knows this battle intimately. Having undergone 25 surgeries following her attack in 2009, she embodies the struggles faced by many survivors. She recalls her journey as a harrowing experience that has profoundly changed her life and the lives of those around her. “I fought for justice for myself. But now, I'm fighting for the sake of other survivors,” she states defiantly.

Her experiences resonate deeply with other survivors, like Ruman*, who has battled severe health complications after being forced to ingest acid in a domestic violence incident. At just 28, she weighs 21kg—less than a typical eight-year-old child. Her struggles illustrate the hidden impact of acid attacks that extends beyond disfigurement.

A Largely Ignored Group

Despite the visible injuries of many survivors, there remains an inherent bias in the law that fails to recognize the complexities of acid attack cases. The current legal framework in India only covers those who have visible disfigurements, effectively sidelining countless victims like Ruman. Malik's petition underlines the pressing need for legislative reform, arguing that all survivors should receive equal recognition and support.

“A single incident alters our whole life. Shouldn't the government do more to prevent people from suffering the same fate as us?” she passionately questions, emphasizing the need for increased preventive measures and societal awareness.

The Role of the Brave Souls Foundation

In 2021, Malik co-founded the Brave Souls Foundation alongside fellow survivor Laxmi Agarwal, aiming to provide legal and economic assistance to acid attack survivors. The foundation serves as a critical lifeline, offering shelter and support to those marginalized by society. About 50 survivors currently reside in the foundation's home in Delhi, grappling with physical, emotional, and financial scars.

The foundation also assists Ruman in pursuing her case against her husband, who has appealed his conviction and was freed on bail after a lengthy process. This highlights another layer of struggle: the judicial system's failure to adequately punish offenders, leading to ongoing threats to victims even after legal proceedings.

Challenges and Public Perception

Malik notes that societal stigma continues to plague acid attack survivors. Recently, she was forced to relocate her foundation's office amid unjust scrutiny, revealing the discomfort some communities have toward survivors. “Many people feel that we may bring them back luck. Some feel uncomfortable seeing our faces,” she reveals, exposing a troubling aspect of public perception that hinders these survivors' reintegration into society.

Yet through it all, Malik remains steadfast. “I will continue to fight for a space for people like myself in society,” she asserts, embodying the resilience that defines the survivors' movement.

Conclusion: A Collective Responsibility

As the Supreme Court takes measures to address the situation by demanding annual reports on acid attacks and suggesting punitive measures against offenders, Malik believes genuine change hinges on both legal reform and societal attitudes. “There's an urgent need for the effective implementation of laws,” she concludes, underlining that while legislation is vital, shifting public perception is equally crucial to safeguard the rights and dignity of acid attack survivors.

It's a reminder that justice is not just about punishment but about restoring dignity to those whose lives have been irrevocably altered.