There are approximately 1,500 recorded acid attacks a year, however this is a vast underestimation. Many attacks are not recorded by relevant government authorities in most countries since acid attacks are not classified as a specific offence. Acid attacks are a global problem, with two key factors leading to the majority of them: gender inequality and easy access to acid.
This report seeks to better understand the latter, by better understanding how corporate legal entities involved in the manufacturing, sale, distribution or use of acid in their supply chains are tackling and reporting on local and global supply chain due diligence with respect to handling, storage, sale and disposal of acid. The report looks at 7 jurisdictions: China; the European Union (as a whole); Germany; India; Spain; the United Kingdom; and the United States. Each is a significant manufacturer of acid, particularly sulphuric acid, and/or is a major exporter/ importer.
The report ends with a ‘Corporate Toolkit’ of best practices to assist corporates in maintaining the highest standards throughout their acid value chains.
ASTi and the Thomson Reuters Foundation are grateful to the lawyers and firms who contributed their time and expertise on a pro bono basis: the coordination, legal research and analysis for this report was carried out by lawyers from Covington & Burling LLP (project coordinators, and the International, EU, Germany, Spain, UK and US chapters), Dechert LLP (US chapter) and Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas & Co (India chapter).