A Long Road to Justice

‘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

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. The first edition sold out and was #5 on the Amazon Kindle store’s Asian History bestseller list in August 2018.
• Heart and Soul: The Life Story of Pastor Augustus Chao. The first edition also sold out.

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 has 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, a resource for journalists.

Sylvia believes her core calling is to use her business and communication skills to mobilize people and resources to help those suffering in the most marginalized places. Since 2005, she 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 organizations. This movement 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 reached more than 25,000 people in universities, schools, and major corporations.

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.

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