Breaking The Silence: Social Support Systems For Acid Attack Survivors

Abstract

Acid attacks are among the most extreme forms of violence, causing severe physical disfigurement, long-term psychological trauma, and profound social exclusion for survivors. This review examines how social support systems can be used to support recovery, rehabilitation, and empowerment, and why they are required to be integrated and survivor-centred. It focuses on the role of informal networks, including families, peer groups, and community groups, and institutional mechanisms including NGOs, advocacy organizations and rehabilitation centers that offer medical care, counseling, vocational training, and livelihoods. The discussion also gives importance to the role of governmental policies and legal frameworks in providing access to compensation, justice, and regulated sales of acid in addition to the weaknesses that are brought about by poor enforcement and bureaucratic delays. In addition, the increasing impact of the survivor-led advocacy movements and awareness campaigns is mentioned, which proves their role in changing the way people perceive the issue, decreasing stigma, and contributing to the change in policy. Although there has been significant improvement, severe lapses are still present in access to care, mental rehabilitation, economic self-sufficiency, and social integration in the long term. The paper concludes by recommending a multi-sectoral strategy involving intersectoral collaboration, expanded mental health services, sustainable livelihood initiatives, and survivor-driven policymaking to establish an inclusive, equitable, and comprehensive framework that empowers survivors to rebuild their lives with dignity, resilience, and independence.