Can Understanding Phenomenology And Human Capabilities Help Us Address Acid Violence?

We draw on scholarly literature on the phenomenology of power and disability to understand both the impact of acid violence upon survivors' lives and the motivations of perpetrators. We employ a human capabilities approach, espoused by prominent development theorists such as Amartya Sen and Martha Nussbaum, to propose policy responses and support systems based not solely on the provision of financial and material resources, but also on improving the social position of acid violence survivors. We show how engaging simultaneously with these frameworks will help move the political and philosophical discourse on acid violence forward and also enable us to frame more responsive and enabling policies to support survivors.