This event is hosted by the NASW-NJ Middlesex Unit.
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Unit events are a fun, informative way to grow your network near your home or workplace. These events are one of the many benefits of NASW-NJ membership, but we do invite all mental health professional to join us at this meeting. Learn more about our Units here.
Topic: Acid Attacks on Women: Evidence from South Asia
Instructors: Vijaya Lakshmi Singh
Acid attacks are intensely inhuman crimes because the perpetrators plan to disfigure the victims rather than kill them. Perpetrators usually attack victims with hydrochloric, sulphuric, or nitric acid, which quickly burns through flesh and bone. The long-term consequences of these attacks may include blindness, as well as eye burns, with severe permanent scarring of the face and body, along with far-reaching social, psychological, and economic difficulties Although acid attacks occur all over the world, this type of violence is most common in South Asia. Countries typically associated with acid assault include Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos, United Kingdom, Kenya, South Africa, Uganda, Pakistan and Afghanistan. In India, acid attacks are at an all-time high and increasing every year, with 250–300 reported incidents every year. The Acid Survivors' Trust International" suggest that 80% of victims worldwide are women. Hence, it is imperative to understand the genesis behind such heinous crime against women in South Asia, as well as be aware about their existence, challenges and contemplate on directions to support the victims and stop the acid attack menace.
Speaker Bio: Dr. Vijay Lakshmi is a Fellow (PhD) of Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad (a triple crown accredited institute - EQUIS, AMBA, AACSB - and the top MBA/management college of India). Her research paper from her thesis on Job Crafting won the best paper award at the Academy of Management's HR Division Conference. The OB Division of AoM also acknowledged her services for outstanding scholarly peer reviewing. Dr Singh has also qualified the Government of India–University Grants Commission’s National Eligibility Test for Lectureship and Research Fellowship. Her research interests include diversity and inclusion, proactive employee behaviors, women empowerment, work-life balance issues and development of the marginalized. She has taught courses on Strategic Human Resource Management, Talent Management, Employer Branding, Strategic Staffing, Negotiation Skills, Organizational Design & Dynamics and Organizational Behaviour. She has also delivered various soft skills, leadership (including women leadership) and managerial development training programs for professionals, including PSUs and corporates. Dr Singh worked partly with an international NGO (UNICEF) for the cause of social development and also has experience working in the hospitality, education and real estate sector, in the context of family business management. Her academic work has been published in ranked peer-reviewed journal publications and she has presented her research at prestigious international and national conferences. Prior to her doctoral studies, VijayLakshmi earned her M.Phil degree in Population Studies from the Indian Institute of Population Sciences, Mumbai, a Masters from Banaras Hindu University and Graduation from the University of Calcutta