1996- Present: CAMBODIA & BANGLADESH ACI

In South Asia, acid throwing attacks have become increasingly common:

As a form of revenge for refusal of sexual advances, proposals of marriage and demands for dowry.
Land disputes, robbery, and other disputes between neighbors.
In Bangladesh, a form of domestic violence.
In modern India, to enforce the caste system (against Dalit people)
In Cambodia, it was reported that these attacks were mostly carried out by wives against their husbands' lovers.
In Pakistan, attacks are typically the work of husbands against their wives who have "dishonored them."

Cambodia:

At least 44 acid attacks were reported in Cambodia from 1999-2002
Injuring 60 people and killing 3 others.
These statistics are from newspaper reports, so the real number of acid attacks may be higher.

Bangladesh – still increasing:

Acid melts human flesh and even bones, causing excruciating pain and terror, and leaves the victims mutilated and scarred for the rest of their lives.
Some suffer permanent disabilities such as blindness.
The acid is usually thrown at the victim’s face. The perpetrator wants to destroy the face and make the victim look like a monster, so nobody will love the victim ever again.
They often feel sad, worthless, worried and ashamed.
They may become very lonely, because other people stare or laugh at them or blame them for the acid attack.
Victims may never marry or have children, and even simple tasks like going to the market may be embarrassing and frightening for them.
They may not be able to work, or nobody will give them a job, so they become very poor and struggle to survive.

The victim is faced with physical challenges, which require long term surgical treatment, as well as psychological challenges, which require in-depth intervention from psychologists and counselors at each stage of physical recovery.