Providing holistic services to acid burn survivors and working for the prevention of acid violence in Cambodia

CASC’s Mission The Cambodian Acid Survivors Charity (CASC) was established in 2006 as a direct response to the lack of services and the limitedoptions for medical treatment made available to acid burnsurvivors in Cambodia.

Recognizing that acid burn survivors require long-term psychological, medical, and social care, CASC provides survivorswith a unique range of services and a holistic approach for their physical and psychological rehabilitation.

The four petals in the CASC logo reflect the different aspects of CASC’s work:

1. Surgical, medical, and psychological treatment;

2. Vocational training and social reintegration projects;

3. Legal assistance and advocacy for legal reform; and

4. Awareness raising, research, education and advocacy to eliminate acid violence in Cambodia.

Statistics on acid violence in CambodiaCASC has recorded a total of 332 acid burn incidents in 23 different provinces dating back to 1964. A total of 420 victims have been recorded as a result of these incidents with a total of 74% of all acid burn survivors recorded by CASC were the victims of violent attacks.

Survivors by Age and Gender

Unknown27%

Accident21%

Mis Target18%

(Perceived) Infidelity14%

Hate5%

Jealousy4%Family Dispute

2%

(Attempted) Suicide

2%

Business Dispute2%

Domestic Violence1%

Land/Property Dispute1%

Dispute1%

Robbery0%

ReportedMotives

Male40%

Female44%

Boy7%

Girl8%

1. Surgical, medical, and psychological treatment

To date, and in conjunction with theChildren’s Surgical Centre (CSC), CASCprovided the following services for acid burns survivors: • 378 operations • 1,441 consultations • 12,930 physiotherapy treatment and

consultations sessions • 1,068 pressure garments were made and

refitted• 2,583 counseling sessions• 181 home visits conducted

2. Vocational training and social reintegration projects• 68 Acid Burn Survivor Support Group Meetings

were convened to foster peer support, provide a venue for survivors to talk about success and challenges faced in their reintegration and participate in legal and social workshops

• 112 survivors were reintegrated back into society

• 104 survivors received vocational training

• 61 survivors received work placements

• Up to 58 children received educational support annually

• 4,264 Bags by Acid Burn Survivors were produced and proceeds of the sales returned to survivors

• 1,238 kilograms of produce was sold in local markets or consumed on-site from the Agricultural Project

3. Legal assistance and advocacy for legal reform

• Legal Unit worked to achieve justice for acid burn survivors in as many as 56 cases and continues to monitor 12 cases

• 12 final prison sentences were given to perpetrators and required to pay compensation to survivors

• CASC began advocating for legal reform for harsher penalties for perpetrators and the regulation of acid in 2009

• CASC was asked to sit on the Acid Committee with Ministry of Interior to create a greater understanding of the issue and provide recommendations for the draft Acid Law

• In November 2011 the Acid Law was passed by the National Assembly and Senate, promulgated by the King in December 2011, and formally enacted as law in January 2012

• The Sub-decree regarding the regulation and control of concentrated acid passed in January 2013

4. Awareness raising, research, education and advocacy to eliminate acid violence in Cambodia

• Conducted outreach in 21 of 23 provinces

• Sensitized 2,645 health and legal service providers, local law enforcement, teachers, students, and community members to prevention messages and information about acid violence

• Established the first and only 24-Hour Acid Burn Hotline for the referral and notification of new cases

• Disseminated 3,805 prevention and awareness materials, including copies of the Acid Law and Sub-decree

• Developed partnerships and networks with 58 organizations in Cambodia and internationally to strengthen support services for survivors, referral networks, and prevention activities

• Worked with 61 media agents nationally and internationally and 137 articles, radio, TV and online programs were published

• Established the first evidence base and analysis of the nature and scope of acid violence in Cambodia through the publication of 9 reports

CASC’s Achievement• Acid attacks have been steadily decreasing in

Cambodia in part due to the passage of the Acid Law and Sub-decree.

• CASC recorded a total of 5 acid attacks in 2014 resulting in 6 new acid burn survivors. This marks a 83% decrease from the peak year in 2010 where there were 20 acid attacks and 36 survivors recorded.

• To date, 420 acid burn survivors have been recorded by CASC, 322 of whom were provided with acute burn surgery, treatment, and/or supportive services.

• As a consequence of the decrease in new cases, CASC has reduced the scope of its activities and consequent budget, but remains capable of scaling up rapidly should the numbers of attacks increase again, if the legislation is not followed by implementation.

2010 2011 2012 2013 20140

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Survivors of Acid Attacks in Cambodia

CASC is so grateful for the generous support it has received over the years and is proud to have helped made a difference in the lives of acid burn survivors and the campaign to end acid violence in Cambodia.