A new campaign by ASTI urges the business sector to take action and help prevent acid attacks. To reflect the link between acid-intensive industries and corrosive violence, ASTI’s campaign highlights the textile sector, which uses an estimated
43 million tonnes of chemicals each year.
The campaign uses compelling imagery of a fashion shoot with damaged clothing, representing the devastation of an acid attack. ASTI’s call to action comes as EU countries prepare for the implementation of the EU Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD) into national laws.
The CSDDD holds businesses accountable for the social and environmental impacts of their activities, including human rights violations related to their operations and partnerships. As acid attacks have been demonstrated to be a form of gender-based violence, businesses should ensure stricter control of access to dangerous corrosives.
ASTI is grateful to law firms A&O Shearman and Boekx Adocaten for their legal support on this campaign.
By targeting business sectors which use acids in their value chain, ASTI hopes to limit the opportunities for corrosives to fall into the wrong hands, with the devastating possibilities for attacks.
Although the CSDDD affects corporates in the EU, the increase in corrosive attacks is a global issue. ASTI estimates there are at least 10,000 acid attacks around the world each year
This is a conservative estimate, as many countries do not maintain official records of attacks and many go unreported for fear of reprisal. In the UK, for example, only 8% of reported acid attack offences in 2023 went to court.
Many large businesses involved in the manufacture, distribution and handling of acids are based in China, the EU, UK, US and India. However, the highest proportion of attacks occur in regions with industries that make intensive use of acid – such as textiles and jewellery. These countries include Pakistan, Bangladesh and India.
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
