Reflecting on the founding of CERESAV, Hanifa Nakiryowa shares:
The idea for CERESAV came from my personal journey. In 2011, after leaving a seven-year abusive marriage, I was attacked with acid by my ex-husband. In the traditional and religious society where I grew up, women and girls often face systemic oppression and are denied access to basic human rights. Leaving my marriage was seen as an act of defiance, and three months later, I was attacked with acid when I went to pick up my children from my ex-husband’s home. One of my children was also injured in the attack.
While recovering in the hospital, I met many other survivors of acid violence people I never knew existed before. The stigma, discrimination, and trauma we all faced, coupled with the injustices I experienced, drove me to fight back against acid attacks and gender-based violence.
CERESAV’s mission is to address these issues not just in Uganda, but globally, by partnering with other nations dealing with similar problems. We call on individuals, educational institutions, medical professionals, non-profits, and faith-based organizations to join us in combating this devastating form of violence. Together, we can save the next potential victim and bring an end to this cruel act of terror.