Cambodian Acid Survivors Charity

CAMBODIAN ACID SURVIVORS CHARITY (CASC) IS THE ONLY ORGANIZATION IN CAMBODIA WORKING WITH SURVIVORS OF ACID ATTACKS USING A HOLISTIC APPROACH. CASC ADDRESSED THE SURVIVORS IMMEDIATE MEDICAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL REQUIREMENTS, PROVIDED EXTENSIVE VOCATIONAL TRAINING AND SOCIAL REINTEGRATION, RAISED AWARENESS OF ACID ATTACKS AND ADVOCATES ELIMINATION OF ACID VIOLENCE. CASC WAS ESTABLISHED IN 2006 AS A DIRECT RESPONSE TO THE LACK OF SERVICES AND THE LIMITED OPTIONS FOR MEDICAL TREATMENT MADE AVAILABLE TO ACID BURN SURVIVORS IN CAMBODIA. RECOGNIZING THAT SURVIVORS REQUIRE LONG-TERM CARE TO HEAL AND REBUILD, CASC EXPANDED ITS PROGRAMS TO PROVIDE A RANGE OF SERVICES, INCLUDING PSYCHOLOGICAL, SOCIAL AND LEGAL SUPPORT.WITH THE GOAL OF ELIMINATING ACID VIOLENCE IN CAMBODIA, CASC BEGAN ADVOCATING FOR LEGAL REFORM FOR HARSHER PENALTIES, AND CALLING FOR THE STRICTER REGULATION OF ACID. CASC HAS BEEN INSTRUMENTAL IN REDUCING THE INCIDENCE OF ACID ATTACKS BY BEING A MAJOR REFERRAL FORCE TO THE MEDIA BY PROVIDING UPDATES ON VICTIMS, STATISTICS OF ATTACKS, AND GENERAL COMMENTARY. OUTRAGE AND SOCIETAL PRESSURES LED TO THE PASSAGE OF THE ACID LAW CRIMINALIZING AND PENALIZING PERPETRATORS OF ATTACKS IN 2012, AND TO THE PASSAGE OF THE REGULATIONS GOVERNING THE SALE AND USE OF CONCENTRATED ACID IN 2013. SUCH LEGISLATION HAS RESULTED IN THE NUMBER OF ATTACKS TO DROP IN CAMBODIA FROM 36 SURVIVORS IN 2010, TO 4 IN 2014.AS A CONSEQUENCE OF THESE RESULTS, CASC REDUCED THE SCOPE OF ITS ACTIVITIES AND CONSEQUENT BUDGET IN 2015, BUT REMAINS CAPABLE OF SCALING UP RAPIDLY SHOULD THE NUMBER OF ATTACKS INCREASE IN THE EVENT LEGISLATION IS NOT SUPPORTED BY IMPLEMENTATION OF THE LAWS. CASC CONTINUES TO PROVIDE FREE SURGICAL CARE TO ACID BURN SURVIVORS THROUGH A RELATED NON-PROFIT, CHILDENS SURGICAL CENTRE (CSC). THE LEGAL, SOCIAL AND SUPPORT EFFORTS PROVIDED BY CASC WERE SUSPENDED DURING 2015.CURRENTLY, THE CASC FACILITIES AT SROK ANK KNUOL, KANDAL PROVINCE ARE BEING USED BY CSC FOR ACID-BURN PATIENTS REQUIRING LONGER-TERM THERAPY THAN TYPICALLY PROVIDED AT THE CSC FACILITIES. THIS SEPARATION REDUCES RISK OF CROSS INFECTION AND PROVIDES A BETTER ENVIRNOMENT FOR THE PATIENTS' EXTENDED CARE.