Acid Survivors & Women Welfare Foundation (ASWWF), in collaboration with the West Bengal Federation of United Nations Associations (WEBFUNA), announced the launch of their campaign “Silence Will Not Protect Women”. As the title indicates, this is an initiative dedicated to creating awareness and combating the heinous violence of acid attacks, with a strong focus on prevention, rehabilitation and advocacy for survivors.
The launch of “Silence Will Not Protect Women” campaign witnessed the presence of distinguished dignitaries, including Mr. Manish Gupta, IAS (Retd.), Former Member of Parliament, Air Chief Marshal Arup Raha, Former Chief of Air Staff of India & Chancellor of Assam University, Mr. Surajit Kar Purkayastha, IPS (Retd.), Chairman of Satyendranath Tagore Civil Service Study Centre, West Bengal, Mrs. Minakshi Mishra, Director & Zonal Head, Zonal Office (East), ICCR; Dr. Hari Prasad Kanoria, Trustee, ASWWF,Mr. Sitaram Sharma, Chairman, WEBFUNA,Mrs. Madhulika Kanoria, Chairperson, ASWWF andDr. Rahul Varma, Vice Chairman & CEO, ASWWF.
The following notable personalities were also present during the launch of the campaign – Ms. Rita Bhimani, Founder-CEO, Ritam Communications, Ms. Alokananda Roy, Indian Classical Dancer, Ms. Moubani Sorcar, Indian Actress and Painter, Ms. Santa Kundu, Classical Singer, Ms. Reshmi Dutta Flanders, Author, Honorary Research Fellow at the University of Kent, UK, Ms. Rupkatha Sarkar, Principal, La Martiniere for Girls, Kolkata, Ms. Joyeeta Basu, Educationist, Social Activist, Secretary Concern for Kolkata; and Ms. Shravani Sarkar Neogi, Founder, Secretary-cum-Director, South Kolkata Hamari Muskan Foundation. Other dignitaries included Mr. Imran Zaki, President of FACES, Non-profit Organisation; Dr. Satnam Singh Alluwalia, Chairman, IHA Foundation; andDr. Kanchan Chakraborty, National President, Human Rights International Organizations.
“Through the ‘Silence Will Not Protect Women’ campaign, our vision is to eradicate acid violence from India through social, educational, and regulatory measures. We aim to provide extensive support to more survivors and promote human rights, gender equality, and women’s empowerment”, said Dr. Hari Prasad Kanoria, Trustee, ASWWF.
“The ‘Silence Will Not Protect Women’ campaign is crucial as it addresses the often-muted suffering of women. We are proud to support ASWWF in their mission to eradicate acid violence”, said Mr. Sitaram Sharma, Chairman, WEBFUNA.
“Acid violence is a severe crime against humanity. Besides supporting survivors, we plan to establish a psycho-social burn rehabilitation center for holistic care. We advocate for adequate compensation, medical treatment, rehabilitation, and stringent punishment for offenders. We also urge the government to increase the number of Skin Banks for better treatment of burn victims”, said Mrs. Madhulika Kanoria, Chairperson, ASWWF.
“Our multipronged approach includes immediate victim support and community-based programs to prevent future attacks. We collaborate with various organizations to provide comprehensive assistance to victims and their families”, stated Dr. Rahul Varma, Vice Chairman & CEO, ASWWF.
ASWWF has been at the forefront of providing support to acid attack survivors across India, helping them with treatment, facilitating government compensation, and raising funds for their rehabilitation. The foundation also organizes campaigns, demonstrations, and street plays to highlight the need for stricter regulations on the sale of acid and to educate the public about this monstrous crime.
Renowned social activists, philanthropists, industrialists, physicians, and surgeons from different parts of India are supporting this noble cause. ASWWF’s efforts have received international recognition, including a “Certificate of Special Congressional Recognition” from the Members of Congress, USA.
The foundation employs a four-pronged approach to support its mission: providing immediate care and support to victims, conducting community-based prevention programmes, collaborating with NGOs and government organizations for comprehensive assistance, and advocating for stronger legal measures against perpetrators.
