A Brave Face

August 2009
Last year in Bangladesh there were 179 acid attacks. Often the result of land disputes, the crime has long been seen as family business. Finally, police are cracking down on this nations shame.

Seventeen year old Hasina was attacked after an argument over a bucket of water. 'I said, Mum, I am on fire, Im burning, give me water' relates Hasina. After her surgery, pregnant women feared shed make their babies deformed. In a society that favours boys, not only women but baby girls are often targeted. 'Cockroaches were eating her scars' says Monira who runs the Acid Survivors Foundation. Six month old Jonaki was brought here from a public hospital, where she received no treatment. 'Women and girls are so cheap in this society, men can destroy them' explains Monira. 'The conviction rate is a little low because of the judicial system' says Police Chief Mahub Alum. Yet hes heading a new campaign to encourage reporting of acid throwing. 'If the husband is the attacker, how it is possible for the wife to take legal recourse against the main breadwinner?' asks Monira. For many women, disfigurement has forced them to find independence. 'I am able to earn money and I am able to live my life' says Fozila, who works in a call centre and has just finished a degree. 'I dont believe that a domestic life can always mean happiness'.

Produced by ABC Australia

Category:

• Documentary

Tags:

• acid
• attack
• india
• women
• children
• disfigured
• journeyman
• pictures
• news
• documentary
• current affairs
• journeyman pictures

[crazypen2009]

Hasn't anyone cut his dick yet? :S I wish I could fry his dick with acid on a vessel :@:@

[freedominsomalia]

those girls need to buy guns!!!

[83nickynonickers]

What is wrong with these people? How can they even contemplate doing such things to each other and especially children.. I am so lucky to be born an Aussie.. I don't understand some cultures and country's This shouldn't be happening in this day and age.

[someofusarebrave]

Awww...

 WORD on the "guns" bit---at least then she could take one of them down with her! Sometimes you gotta fight back with the only weapons you have lying around...no matter what the consequences might be.-

[NoFootballTeam]

shes not even such a bad case. Thats crazy that she got shunned!

[stranger2100]

It would be justice, if the perpetuators got same suffering a victim. So it could be better to put acid in perpetuators face of body. But it will cause overburden to the society. I think we should put them ultimate punishment after true justice- public death in open space. If it executed that way (not in candid prison cell), then people can think million times to perform this kind of heinous crime.

[salman1517]

ya Allah kitna zulm ho raha hai teri zameen per

[jerryswallow]

@shawking6991 very nice i would like to be able to help those kids...regards to you..

[jerryswallow]

your still a beautifull person always, bless you

[jerryswallow]

your still a beautifull person always, bless you

[christineislam]

I hate the way they treat people, they should be ashamed of themselves, I miss my family though.