Sylvia Yu Friedman is an award-winning filmmaker, investigative
journalist, international speaker, serial entrepreneur, and advisor
to philanthropists.
She is the author of two books- Silenced No More- Voices of Comfort
Women, the only journalistic account of Japanese military sex
slavery during the Second World War, and Heart and Soul- The Life
Story of Pastor Augustus Chao. The first editions of both of these
books sold out, and the former was #5 on the Amazon Kindle store's
Asian History bestseller list in August 2018.
In 2017, Sylvia was listed in Assent Compliance's 'Top 100 Human
Trafficking & Slavery Influence Leaders'. In 2013, she won the
prestigious International Human Rights Press Award for her
three-part documentary series on human trafficking in China, Hong
Kong and Thailand.
After ten years of intensive research and interviews with elderly
survivors, academics, lawyers and activists in different countries,
Sylvia is considered a global expert on the victims of Japanese
military sex slavery, known as 'comfort women'. She's been
interviewed or featured by the BBC, CNN, CGTN, South China Morning
Post, and The Globe and Mail, and covered widely in the media
across China and the rest of Asia.
Sylvia is listed as a SheSource expert in the database of the
Women's Media Center, which was founded by Jane Fonda and Gloria
Steinem, and serves as a resource for journalists.
Sylvia believes her core calling is to use her business and
communication skills to mobilise people and resources to help those
suffering in the most marginalised places. Since 2005, Sylvia has
managed and directed millions of dollars to major humanitarian
portfolios, impacting the lives of more than a million people. This
work has given her access to many influential networks in different
countries.
Sylvia led a Hong Kong-based movement of 'passionate compassion'
against human trafficking that involved more than 120 churches,
NGOs and organisations, and later expanded to other countries,
including Malaysia, China, Canada, South Africa and the US. Through
more than 50 slavery awareness events over 18 months, her team has
reached more than 25,000 people in universities, schools and major
corporations like Goldman Sachs.
Sylvia is married to Matthew Friedman, a top-ranked inspirational
keynote speaker and a leading global expert on slavery who is
currently the CEO of The Mekong Club and was formerly a United
Nations director and US diplomat. In the summer of 2016, they
delivered 113 presentations in 27 US cities. She and Matthew are
based in Hong Kong.
'A searing but ultimately hopeful indictment of sexual
exploitation.'-Kirkus Review (Starred Review)'An "iconic
book".'
--The Manila Times'The author is a brave and eloquent journalist
who has allowed her conscience to guide her reporting to
often-dangerous haunts in the back alleys of Asia! As an NGO
dedicated to rescuing North Korean human trafficking victims for
the past two decades, we at Helping Hands Korea say 'Bravo!' to
Sylvia's courageous, hard-hitting and riveting exposé.'--Tim
Peters, Founder of Helping Hands Korea (helpinghandskorea.org)'A
Long Road to Justice: Stories from the Frontlines in Asia is the
first major publication concentrated in trafficking activity in
Asia from a historical, ethnic, transnational, and
self-identification perspective. Filtered by field interviews and
ground level information, A Long Road to Justice provides a
holistic awakening of the trafficking reality in the far east. The
author brilliantly blended her study's variables to provide the
reader an informed vantage point, in the hopes of invigorating a
response to act and prevent trafficking. Although the author may
feel a semblance of disappointment of not publishing this book
prior to the passing of specific individuals, I am confident those
individuals are at peace with themselves and the release of this
work. What is important is the knowledge is now being passed to
others to know and act. A Long Road to Justice is a must read for
all of these who want to know about human trafficking and act.'
-Christian Nanry, PhD, Sr Inspector, United States Marshals
Service'A powerful, must read book on sex trafficking in
Asia.'-Jonathan Chong, S.T.A.R.S. Foundation'This is an excellent
book that narrates vividly the trafficking of women mostly for
prostitution and sometimes domestic labor throughout Asia. The book
spans past and present, traversing different parts of the world
including Canada, mainland China, Japan, Hong Kong, Thailand,
Cambodia, Myanmar, South Korea, and the Philippines. The power of
this book... is the portrayal of the huge suffering wrought by
slavery.
...it is an important account of sexual enslavement, because it not
only highlights the historical atrocities of Japanese wartime
slavery, but also present-day slavery of women and underage girls
across Asia which has not been fully resolved."-Han Shih Toh, PhD,
Reviewed in the Asia Sentinel'I'm amazed by Sylvia Yu Friedman's
book, A Long Road to Justice. It is a must-have and a
must-read.'-Innocentia G. Apovo Monteiro, Head of Interpol, NCB
Cotonou Senior Law Enforcement Organized crime International
cooperation; and a former Coordinator of the Trafficking in Human
Beings Unit within INTERPOL'Friedman's moving, meticulously
documented book shows that the road to justice for sex trafficking
survivors--North Korean, Chinese, Southeast Asian or otherwise--is
indeed long and full of obstacles. That's no reason to abandon
hope, however; the road will remain long if we avoid walking
it.'--Daily NK; Rob York is director for regional affairs at the
Pacific Forum in Honolulu, Hawaii'In her new book, A Long Road to
Justice: Stories from the Frontlines in Asia (2021), author Sylvia
Yu Friedman uncovers truth about historical and contemporary sex
trafficking, slavery, and racial discrimination in a way that is
powerful and raw in her honest truth-telling, and gentle and humble
in her clear-eyed recounting of stories that can only be gathered
through the safety and love of listening with the heart. I strongly
recommend this book to anyone with a desire to behold and become
part of the light of justice in our world.'--RicePaper Magazine
'What a profound book by a most courageous author who has braved
the frontlines in this fight for justice. Sylvia has brought much
needed attention to the problem of modern day human trafficking;
she has brought to light the pain and suffering of young women and
children being sold into sex slavery and prostitution. It was
heart-breaking to read about young girls being lured or tricked,
then raped repeatedly by traffickers in order to break their spirit
and coerce them into prostitution; about impoverished children as
young as three years old being sold into exploitation by sex
tourists. Thank you Sylvia and Matt Friedman for the amazing work
you do through your books, films and the Mekong Club, in trying to
make this world a better place.'--Danielle Lim, Award-winning
author of All Our Brave, Earthly Scars and And Softly Go the
Crossings'A courageous and impassioned journal that enlightens the
readers on the dark world of human trafficking. Here's to Ms. Yu's
commitment to fighting the injustice and suffering of the
underprivileged people spawned by human greed.'--Mia Kim, author of
Me, Then
'A gripping and heart wrenching account that reveals the true,
untold stories of human trafficking from all parts of the world.
It's a book about abuse and enslavement but also about hope and
dedication, as the author also highlights the lives of those how
have chosen to help the victims and survivors on the frontlines. An
absolute must read and highly recommended.'--Christine Amour-Levar,
author of Wild Wisdom
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