Survivors of acid attacks in Mexico unite to push for change

Xolalpa, who survived an acid attack when tied to a post by her ex-partner 20 years ago when she was 18, poses for a portrait inside her greenhouse where she grows flowers to sell at a market in Mexico City. Photos: AP

Elisa Xolalpa has had three daughters and found a job she enjoys since a former boyfriend tried to destroy her life by tossing acid on her when she was 18. Two decades later, she is still seeking justice.

Survivors of acid attacks like Xolalpa are banding together and raising their voices in Mexico despite the country’s high rates of violence, which often targets women, and staggering levels of impunity.