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Biography
Nasreen Huq has been an activist and leader in Naripokko, a women’s rights organization in Bangladesh, since 1988. One of her projects in Naripokko has been the founding and coordination of the Campaign Against Acid Violence.
Acid burnings are a brutal form of violence against girls and women. In many cases, sulfuric acid is thrown on girls and young women as revenge for rejecting a suitor’s advances. Usually, the goal is to disfigure their faces, taking away their beauty and "value."
In 1995, Ms. Huq helped a woman obtain health care and support after being burned with acid, and pursue a criminal case against her attacker. This interaction led to visits with more survivors, and later, a workshop to bring this problem to light. Today, the campaign continues to seek treatment and emotional support for survivors and demand the criminal prosecution of attackers. Naripokko also works in conjunction with police officials to monitor the problem of acid burning. The campaign has garnered support from countries such as Canada, Italy, Spain, and Great Britain. Ms. Huq also coordinates Naripokko’s Health Team and Safe Motherhood Program, and has led other campaigns and events.
She holds positions on numerous national and international committees, including the Gender Advisory Committee of the Bangladeshi Ministry of Health and Family Welfare; the Gender Advisory Panel, Special Program on Human Reproduction at the World Health Organization; and the Advisory Committee on Asia, Pacific Research and Resources on Women and Health.
Ms. Huq holds a Masters of Science degree in nutritional sciences from the University or California at Berkeley. She is employed as a senior policy advisor at Helen Keller International.
Check Out her Web Chat (6 March 2001)