Silent Veil a documentary on acid victims by Depilex Smile again

Silent Veil a documentary by Depilex Smileagain by depilexsmileagain

 

Silent Veil is a documentary film about the acid burn victims in Pakistan. Depilex Smileagain is a supportive organization which helps in the rehabilitation of such victims by providing them with surgeries and skin treatments. Once the acid victims have recovered, Depilex Smileagain also trains them professionally in their fields of choice and also helps them getting a job or starting a business of their own.

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http://www.depilexsmileagain.com

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Musarrat Misbah - An introduction to the founder of Depilex Smileagain

Musarrat Misbah In A Nutshell

Masarrat Misbah has a dynamic persona with multiple talents and is a name that needs no introduction. She is a distinguished entrepreneur, cosmetologist and philanthropist. As a beautician, she is Pakistan's first beauty expert, who initiated the trend of professional beauty salons in the country. Her charismatic and promising personality reflects vividly her love for beauty. She deserves admiration for her empathy forthose who have accidentally lost it.

Musarrat Misbah was born on November 25, 1959 in Karachi. Her father Mr. Misbah Uddin Khan is a business tycoon and her mother Ms. Anisa is a social worker, philanthropist and a prominent personality of Karachi. Masarat Misbah spent early years of her life in Karachi. Being the eldest daughter amongst six sisters and two brothers, she was raised and treated as a totally independent individual since her childhood.

Initially Musarat Misbah committed herself fully to help women look beautiful and quickly ascended the ladder of success as a beautician. But something deep inside always reminded her that this was not the ultimate goal she wanted to achieve. Even though she belongs to an affluent family and has always enjoyed a luxurious life, she was constantly thoughtful of the plight of the women who had lost their charm in acid attacks and burning incidents.
With a strong desire to make a meaningful contribution and a will to bring about a positive change in the lives of those who had suffered due to atrocities of deliberate burning, she decided to establish an NGO and eventually laid the basis of Depilex Smileagain Foundation in 2005. Though she is extremely successful in the realms of business and cosmetology, her noble cause to help and rehabilitate acid and burn crimes' victims has transformed her into a philanthropist who is envied by many.

For her valuable contributions in various fields of life, Masarrat Misbah is the recipient of several prestigious awards. As the President of Depilex Smileagain Foundation, she is the first woman from Pakistan who has been awarded by the Italian Government on Women's Day for her courage and commitment. Within Pakistan, for her untiring efforts as a beautician, entrepreneur, social worker and philanthropist she has received several exalted awards. In April 2010, she was also honoured with the Presidential Award for Pride of Performance.
Apart from that, Masarrat Misbah had also been invited as a valued guest to deliver various lectures on beauty, philanthropy and social work at multiple universities nationwide.

Source: http://magtheweekly.com/05-11jan2013/feature.asp

Depilex Smile again and TUSDEC collabrate to provide training to acid victims

Depilex smile again is has been working for a decade for the treatments and rehabilitation of burnt victims, during these years countless acid and burn victims have been trained as beauticians and are earning a living of their own. In past many organizations e.g. hotels, institutes have collaborated with Depilex smileagain to provide the burnt victims professional trainings or job opportunities. Tusdec is also an organization that is focused on providing vocational training for the socioeconomic empowerment of vulnerable women. Tusdec and Depilex Smileagain recently collaborated and signed an agreement to help restore the socioeconomic status of acid victims.

A memorandum of understanding was signed between both parties to collaborate in capacity building of acid burn survivors. Tusdec would provide free of cost vocational training to women passing through treatment and recovery with the help of Depilex Smileagain Foundation. The training would be delivered in various conventional and modern trades.

 Women would be facilitated with free of charge transportation and a monthly stipend aiding them to manage their medications. Tusdec also plans to launch various vocational training programs to stabilize such survivors as the socioeconomic strength of women would contribute towards economic progress of Pakistan. “Depilex Smileagain Foundation would mark the candidates who are going to receive technical and vocational training from Tusdec considering their aptitude, ability and stage of treatment.”

Acid attacks and violence against women facts in 2012

Statistics on violence against women make for a depressing read in Pakistan and this year is no exception. Though a report by the Aurat Foundation states the reported cases of violence against women in 2012 saw a drop of 12 per cent from the previous year, cases of acid attacks saw a whopping increase of 89 per cent in the same period. This is a horrific figure made gloomier by the realization that this all happened despite the passing in 2011 of two laws deemed pro-women: The Acid Control and Acid Crime Prevention Bill and The Prevention of Anti-Women Practices Bill. Laws are supposed to act as deterrents to crime and while one cannot expect them to immediately arrest heinous acts overnight, a spike of 89 per cent in a year is rather extraordinary. Perhaps, it explains why a group of nine MPAs from the ruling coalition presented a bill last month calling for the death penalty for those found guilty of carrying out acid attacks. They also asked that investigation of an acid attack be completed within a fortnight of a case being filed and a trial be conducted in a week, adding that if the investigating officer is found negligent, he be fined or punished for two years. That lawmakers would consider something as drastic as capital punishment, perhaps, indicates their level of frustration at being unable to find a way to tackle this crime that has placed Pakistan as one of the nations with the highest incidents of acid attacks in the world — with an Oscar for a documentary on the subject to prove it.

Perhaps where the frustration lies is in societal attitudes, nay obsession, towards honour. An acid attack on a woman is most often linked to her honour, or lack thereof, and almost always destroys her life. Those who work in rehabilitating the lives of survivors truly deserve accolades. However, laws alone cannot bring about change. Gender equality must be inculcated from an early age and tolerance for all views trumpeted, for that can serve as a powerful deterrent.

Source: http://tribune.com.pk/story/499388/preventing-acid-attacks-2/

http://www.depilexsmileagain.com

Acid attacks and violence against women facts in 2012

Statistics on violence against women make for a depressing read in Pakistan and this year is no exception. Though a report by the Aurat Foundation states the reported cases of violence against women in 2012 saw a drop of 12 per cent from the previous year, cases of acid attacks saw a whopping increase of 89 per cent in the same period. This is a horrific figure made gloomier by the realization that this all happened despite the passing in 2011 of two laws deemed pro-women: The Acid Control and Acid Crime Prevention Bill and The Prevention of Anti-Women Practices Bill. Laws are supposed to act as deterrents to crime and while one cannot expect them to immediately arrest heinous acts overnight, a spike of 89 per cent in a year is rather extraordinary. Perhaps, it explains why a group of nine MPAs from the ruling coalition presented a bill last month calling for the death penalty for those found guilty of carrying out acid attacks. They also asked that investigation of an acid attack be completed within a fortnight of a case being filed and a trial be conducted in a week, adding that if the investigating officer is found negligent, he be fined or punished for two years. That lawmakers would consider something as drastic as capital punishment, perhaps, indicates their level of frustration at being unable to find a way to tackle this crime that has placed Pakistan as one of the nations with the highest incidents of acid attacks in the world — with an Oscar for a documentary on the subject to prove it.

Perhaps where the frustration lies is in societal attitudes, nay obsession, towards honour. An acid attack on a woman is most often linked to her honour, or lack thereof, and almost always destroys her life. Those who work in rehabilitating the lives of survivors truly deserve accolades. However, laws alone cannot bring about change. Gender equality must be inculcated from an early age and tolerance for all views trumpeted, for that can serve as a powerful deterrent.

Source: http://tribune.com.pk/story/499388/preventing-acid-attacks-2/

http://www.depilexsmileagain.com

Hazrat Khadija Tul Kubra (RA) Award for Masarrat Misbah of Depilex Smileagain

“I have got many awards but receiving the Hazrat Khadija tul Kubra Award is a real honor for me. An award with the title of a woman who was the wife of our Prophet (PBUH), whose courage, righteousness, and perfection in all relationships made her a role model for all women, and a successful business woman. This is the best way to be recognized for the humanitarian work that I have chosen to do since 2003.”

These were the words of gratitude by Masarrat Misbah who was honored by the Hazrat Khadija Tul Kubra Award in a ceremony held in Avari Hotel Lahore on 6th November 2012.

The event was organized by Pakistan Federation of Business & Professional Women (BPWO). Begum Zakia Shahnawaz, advisor to Chief Minister Punjab, was the chief guest on the occasion. Nasreen Mahdi from BPWO in her citation acknowledged the efforts of Masarrat Misbah for her humanitarian services rendered through Depilex Smileagain Foundation.

She invited the attention of the chief guest and the audience to the heinous crime of acid throwing on women and urged the government to give maximum punishment to the culprits. Begum Zakia Shahnawaz while handing over the award to Masarrat Misbah commended her contribution as an entrepreneur, a social worker and a humanitarian.

Masarrat Misbah got standing ovation by the audience when she was receiving the award.

 

 

Depilex Smileagain Team Attends Hijab Conference in Pearl Continental Lahore

International Hijab Conference was held at Pearl Continental Lahore on 15th September, 2012. Masarrat Misbah attended the event along with her Depilex Smileagain Foundation (DSF) team of acid victims. It was an inspiring event that emphasized on the importance of hijab in an Islamic society by raising awareness, building a positive image of hijab and addressing the negative misconceptions on the Muslim headdress.

Mrs. Raja Ashraf (wife of PM Raja Pervaiz Ashraf) appeared as chief guest and presented “Special hijab award” to Masarrat Misbah, President Depilex Smileagain foundation, not only for medical and vocational support of the acid victims but also grooming them to be ideal women with religious and cultural values .