Acid Attack.

An acid attack also called acid throwing,, is a form of violent assault[2][3][4] involving the act of

throwing acid or a similarly corrosive substance onto the body of another "with the intention
to disfigure, maim, torture, or kill someone “. Perpetrators of these attacks throw corrosive liquids at
their victims, usually at their faces, burning them, and damaging skin tissue, often exposing and
sometimes dissolving the bones. Acid attacks can often lead to permanent blindness

The most common types of acid used in these attacks are sulfuric and nitric acid. Hydrochloric
acid is sometimes used, but is much less damaging.[7] Aqueous solutions of
strongly alkaline materials, such as caustic soda (sodium hydroxide), are used as well, particularly in
areas where strong acids are controlled substances. [8][9]
The long term consequences of these attacks may include blindness, as well as eye burns, with
severe permanent scarring of the face and body,[10][11][12] along with far-reaching social, psychological,
and economic difficulties.[5]
Today, acid attacks are reported in many parts of the world, though more commonly in developing
countries. Between 1999 and 2013, a total of 3,512 Bangladeshi people were acid attacked [13][14]
[15]
 with the rate of cases declining by 15%-20% every year since 2002 based on strict legislation
against perpetrators and regulation of acid sales.[16][17] In India acid attacks are at an all-time high and
increasing every year with 250-300 reported incidents every year while the "actual number could
exceed 1,000, according to Acid Survivors' Trust International". [18][19]
Although acid attacks occur all over the world, this type of violence is most common in South Asia.
[20]
 The UK has one of the highest rates of acid attacks per capita in the world, [21] according to Acid
Survivors Trust International (ASTI).[22] In 2016 there were over 601 acid attacks in the UK based on
ASTI figures, and 67% of the victims were male, but statistics from ASTI suggest that 80% of victims
worldwide are women.[23] Over 1,200 cases were recorded over the past five years. From 2011 to
2016 there were 1,464 crimes involving acid or corrosive substance in London alone.

An accurate estimate of the gender ratio of victims and perpetrators is difficult to establish because
many acid attacks are not reported or recorded by authorities. According to a 2010 study in The
Lancet, there are "no reliable statistics" on the prevalence of acid attacks in Pakistan.[25]
A 2007 literature review analyzed 24 studies in 13 countries over the past 40 years, covering 771
cases.[15] According to the London-based charity Acid Survivors Trust International, 80% of acid
attacks are on women, and acid assaults are grossly under-estimated. In some regions, assaults
perpetrated on female victims by males are often driven by the mentality "If I can't have you, no one
shall."[75]
In Bangladesh, throwing acid has been labeled as a "gender crime", as there is a dominance of
female victims who are assaulted by males, for the reason of refusing to marry, or refusing sexual
advances from male perpetrators. [76] In Jamaica, women throwing acid on other women in relation to
fights over male partners is a common cause.[76] In the UK, the majority of victims are men, and many
of these attacks are related to gang violence.[24]
Another factor that puts victims at increased risk for an acid assault is their socioeconomic status, as
those living in poverty are more likely to be attacked.[77][16] As of 2013, the three nations with the most
noted incidence of acid attacks – Bangladesh, India, and Cambodia – were ranked 75th, 101st, and
104th, respectively, out of 136 countries on the Global Gender Gap Index, scale that measures
equality in opportunities between men and women in nations. [78]

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