Book Review: Art Therapy Treatment with Sex Trafficking Survivors: Facilitating Empowerment, Recovery and Hope.

Abstract

With the appalling military invasion of Ukraine by Vladimir Putin, foremost in my mind when reading this important book was the inevitable connection between conflict, exploitation and the use of rape as a weapon. Increasingly, reports are revealing the danger of abuse and assault that women and children are subject to when exposed to war and violence. Refugees fleeing military hostilities become significantly more vulnerable to exploitation by traffickers. This applies especially to women who are trafficked for sex when war is raging, but the risk increases merely with the presence of any military force (Nikolic-Ristanovic, 2003). The systemic and structural use of violence against women is inherent in a patriarchal society and results in women and children being victimised and their bodies used for profit in huge numbers globally.

 Art Therapy Treatment with Sex Trafficking Survivors: Facilitating Empowerment, Recovery and Hope is edited by experienced art therapist Mary K. Komatiani and covers work undertaken with this complex population by art therapists, social activists and psychologists in North America, Nepal and India. The book is divided into three parts.