News
ASTI Chair Nominated for Award
LONDON – ASTI’s founder and Chair John Morrison has been nominated by Graham Smith of the British Consultancy Charitable Trust for the 2010 Directory of Social Change, Influencer Award.
The award aims to acknowledge the determination and hard work required to put forth a persuasive argument and win people over to bring about positive change, and will be given to an individual whose efforts have helped realise seemingly impossible achievements.
“I believe John is a most worthy candidate for this award. He has demonstrated a deep passion for helping those in great need, a total commitment and has used his unique ability to mobilise people, against all the odds, from government to ordinary citizens. John has helped institute progressive legislation, he has motivated disparate agencies to work together, and he has pooled resources to stop what was hitherto a crime largely denied and ignored,” Graham explained.
He continued, “John was moved to act after travelling to Bangladesh in 1997 where he first encountered the problem of acid violence. He recognized what an under-reported and hidden crime this is and the traumatic effect it has on women, particularly, sometimes stigmatising them and always affecting them physically, psychologically, socially and economically. He saw that there was no organised system of effective response to either end the crime or help survivors and he immediately resolved to begin tackling the problem.”
Since 1997, John founded ASTI and helped to establish national responses in Bangladesh, Uganda, Cambodia and Pakistan. He continues to be a driving force behind ASTI’s efforts to replicate these successes in Nepal and India. Indeed, this October the Nepalese Embassy will be hosting the official launch of ASTI’s newest partner in Nepal.
“It is remarkable that John’s vision has translated into tangible, quantifiable, life-changing improvements for thousands affected by acid violence. He has influenced social activists, government ministries, law makers and ordinary citizens, and his work has even gained the support and patronage of HRH The Princess Royal, helping to put acid violence on the political and human rights map,” Graham added.
ASTI welcomes this nomination and we look forward to further news on this front.
Posted on September 03rd 2010 by Office in ASTI news
