Muskan Khatun who is an acid attack survivor will be conferred the esteemed International Women of Courage (IWOC) Award. She will receive the award for her struggles to end the acid attacks. She was 15 when she experienced the severe acid attack for refusing the proposal of the boy.
Muskan has suffered serious burns to her face, hands, and chest. She has experienced a lot of pain no one ever imagined and to this day she is experiencing the pain of an acid attack. But the most encouraging thing is that she never disappointed like other acid victims and decided to do something to end this heinous crime which has destroyed her life.
On International Women’s Day on March 8, 2021, the first lady of the US Jill Biden, and Secretary of State Tony Blinken will host an online event, disclosed the embassy of the US in Nepal. Muskan will be bestowed the award for not giving up and for standing for other girls. Earlier, Malala Yousafzai has got the chance to get this award for her struggles for the women and young girls of Pakistan.
In 2019, when Muskan was only 15 she was seriously injured in an acid attack after she refused to accept a boy’s romantic proposals. She has played an important role in setting off new laws outlawing acid attacks and forcing strong punishments against criminals in Nepal. Muskan took the help of a social worker, she strived for stronger legal action against the criminals of acid attacks.
Muskan wrote a letter to the Prime Minister of Nepal, stand before a parliamentary committee, and has also got the chance to meet the PM personally and requested the authorities to bring the changes to avoid these heinous crimes. After a struggle of one year, she got the fruit of her patience.
The President of Nepal released a decree with severe punishments for acid attacks. Authorities have also brought new rules on the sale of acids. This is proof of the substantial activism of Muskan and her patience throughout her Journey.
