END ACID VIOLENCE IN THE U.K.

National governments hold the responsibility to introduce and implement law and policies to protect our fundamental human rights in a cosmopolitan city like London. One of the reasons that acid attacks occur is due to cheap and easy availability of acid in the UK. The state has a due diligence obligation to prevent acid violence on our streets by enforcing tighter regulation of acid sales as well as enacting criminal laws to punish perpetrators. Prevention should start at schools by educating and working with youth to promote respectful relationships and gender equality. Research helps us to understand the causes and effects of acid violence to identify practical and feasible solutions to prevent such attacks whilst taking account of the impact this has on our trade and economy as a whole. We are asking for change in policies and laws that strike a fair and reasonable balance to protect the public whilst being considerate of the rights and duties of our traders, but ultimately our core aim is to punish the perpetrators of this callous act and promote a zero tolerance policy.