Laos: Art Exhibition Raises Human Trafficking Awareness
Vientiane, 3 June 2010
The organisation Acting for Women in Distressing Circumstances (AFESIP) yesterday launched the Art to Healing exhibition, which brings together paintings and sculpture made by AFESIP shelter residents – former victims of human trafficking – during art therapy sessions with experienced psychologists.
Art therapy is described as “a non-invasive method to reveal the psychological consequences of trauma, based on the belief that the creative process involved in the making of art is healing and life-enhancing.”
Country Director of AFESIP in Laos, Mr Didier Bertrand, said AFESIP started the project in 2009 to raise awareness in Laos by using art therapy to expose the psychological consequences of human trafficking for sexual exploitation.
The project is supported by the US government through the US embassy to Laos.
Mr Bertrand explained that art therapy can be used in the psychological treatment of trafficking victims as a therapeutic means of reconciling emotional conflict, fostering self-awareness, developing social skills, managing behaviour, problem solving, reducing anxiety and increasing self-esteem.
He said art therapy promotes the psychological healing of trafficking victims by allowing them to transform their narratives into visual expressions through outlets like drawing, painting, and sculpture.
AFESIP hopes the project will empower victims by giving them the opportunity to share their experiences and contribute to raising awareness amongst the general public.
Mr Bertrand anticipates that the activities will have a strong impact on public awareness by showing the consequences of human trafficking and sexual exploitation from a victim’s perspective.
He added that the project was a first step towards the creation of a “Voices for Change” victims’ association in Laos.
Since its inception in 2006, AFESIP has worked to combat the human trafficking and sexual exploitation of girls and women in Laos.
Source: Vientiane Times |
