When does every woman realise her country has failed her? When the aftermath of the horrific acid attack on Dr Mahnoor, an event so catastrophically heartbreaking that the pain echoes through us all, directs us to our social media platforms, where we can only helplessly express a fraction of this outrage, knowing that Dr Mahnoor’s life is forever changed for the worse. When one of the most widely circulated posts is not an official law enforcement statement, government action, or a campaign highlighting the need for swift action. 

No, you see, a woman realises her country has failed her when one of the most widely circulated posts is a guide titled “Acid Attack First Aid”. A step-by-step video explaining what to do when acid is thrown on your face. 

Step 1: Wash the affected area continuously with water. 

Step 2: Remove contaminated clothing. 

Step 3: Seek immediate medical attention.

Yes, this post is well-intentioned, practical, and relevant. But why did I have to use the word “relevant” to describe it in the first place? There should absolutely be no context in which a well-meaning, well-informed video such as this is referred to as “relevant”. Its widespread circulation poses the question we all want to ask: Why have we, as a society, become better at teaching women to survive violence rather than ensuring it never has to happen in the first place? 

This is not the first time this question has arisen. Take the events of the past few weeks alone: a mother and daughter burnt alive by their family members, a woman murdered by her husband for refusing intimacy, and the young domestic worker who was brutally assaulted by her employer’s........

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