Author(s): Sylvia Yu Friedman

Gender Studies

A constant stream of impoverished women and girls have been, and are being, enslaved and abused in the Asia Pacific region. Slavery is not a historical issue - it's happening today. History is repeating itself. Through my work in journalism, counter-trafficking and philanthropy, I've had rare and incredible access to victims of sex trafficking and modern slavery in China, Thailand, Cambodia, North Korea, South Korea, Myanmar and Indonesia. Amid this terrible human suffering, I've seen frontline workers carrying a great light that has overcome the darkness in some of the most frightening places on Earth. With my husband, Matthew Friedman, a leading international anti-slavery professional with 30 years of field experience, I've campaigned against modern slavery and informed and mobilised many people, churches and organisations around the world for this cause. This memoir describes my personal journey in the fight against slavery through supporting philanthropic initiatives and raising awareness through writing articles and producing films.