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Acid attacks very often occur in countries and regions with industries that make intensive use of corrosives – chemicals that are easily accessible. Countries including Colombia, India, UK, Mexico, Bangladesh and Pakistan. Acid attacks originated in Europe in the late 1700’s and early 1800’s, during the industrial revolution, when corrosives were mass-produced. As industrialisation and the use of corrosives globalised, so did attacks.
Attacks in the Punjab region of Pakistan have recently risen, leading to the newly introduced Punjab Acid Control Bill 2025. The aim of the Bill is to regulate the sale and use of acid to prevent acid violence. The Punjab Province in Pakistan is commonly known as the ‘cotton belt’ due to the high volume of clothing-related industries. Vast amounts of the clothes produced reach European countries.
The campaign focuses on Germany which has one of the largest textiles industries in Europe. German companies are bound by the German Supply Chain Act which makes clear that, “No one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishments.”
Acid attacks are acts of torture and are devastatingly cruel. Victims of acid attacks are very often women, making this a form of gender-based violence. The purpose of an acid attack is rarely to kill; the intention is to cause lifelong physical and psychological suffering to the victims.
Read our Letter to readers explaining why we are launching this campaign.
Photo credit: Connor Adam
“Some people may be shocked by these pictures. I say to them; be much more shocked by actual attacks and the devastating harm they inflict on body and mind.
We must break the link between industry and acid attacks worldwide – not only in the textile sector but in all industries where there is easy and cheap access to dangerous acids.
I welcome laws that will enforce stricter controls on acids in international supply chains, and as a survivor of an acid attack, I urge businesses not to wait – act now and play your part to prevent this life-changing violence.’’
Patricia Lefranc, an acid attack survivor