Silenced No More: Voices of 'Comfort Women'

“Silenced No More: Voices of Comfort Women” weaves the unforgettable stories of the suffering voiceless with themes of forgiveness, conciliation, and unflagging hope, together with the author’s own investigative journey into a tapestry that will open your eyes to one of the largest human rights tragedies in the 20th century: hundreds of thousands of girls and women were trafficked into Imperial Japanese military sex slavery before and during World War II. History infects the present and determines our future. It is this untold history that the author explores. The author, S.J. (Sylvia Yu) Friedman, argues that this little known historical atrocity against women must be exposed to encourage a grassroots reconciliation process to begin in Asia – for the healing of both the victims and perpetrators alike, as well as for the nations involved. Closure of the war wounds is urgently needed.

Friedman is an Asia-based award-winning human rights journalist, author, filmmaker and philanthropy advisor. As a philanthropy advisor, she has directed funds to non-profit organisations in Asia to fight human trafficking since 2005.

CNN opinion article by Friedman:
We need to also learn from this chapter of history. This form of exploitation and abuse didn't end with World War II. It continues today, in Iraq and Syria, where women are enslaved in armed conflicts.'
http://edition.cnn.com/2015/12/30/opinions/japan-korea-china-comfort-women/

CNN News Stream with Kristie Lu Stout: Harrowing stories of sex slavery during WW2
http://edition.cnn.com/videos/tv/2015/12/30/exp-ns-stout-comfort-women-stories.cnn

SCMP Book review:
Friedman has made a valuable effort to address what remains a universal problem: she points out that today nearly 36 million victims of human trafficking suffer in silence as victims of sex slavery or forced labour. While some may consider it incendiary, the most important message to take from this book is one of hope for peace.
http://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/books/article/1860062/book-review-silenced-no-more-gives-voice-comfort-women-japan#

TIME OUT magazine Book review:
Local author and philanthropist Friedman... weaves together the harrowing stories of women forced into sex slavery during the Japanese occupation. A former journalist working in Canada, Beijing and Hong Kong, she has dedicated 10 years to travelling the world and meeting with survivors and activists for her gut-wrenching book.'
http://www.timeout.com.hk/books/features/74009/interview-sj-friedman-silenced-no-more-voices-of-comfort-women.html

SCMP article: Time running out to hear comfort women's stories, says Hong Kong author
'Their horrific stories made a deep impact on the former human rights reporter and motivated her to write a book. It's an issue of historical memory, she said, noting how many Japanese students in past generations never learned about the brothels. So my goal is to lay a foundation of truth so that we can begin a reconciliation process.'
http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/1859793/time-running-out-hear-comfort-womens-stories-says-hong-kong-author

Author Interview on RTHK's Morning Brew:
http://programme.rthk.hk/channel/radio/programme.php?name=radio3/morning_brew&d=2015-08-07&m=episode

Apple Daily (Largest Chinese newspaper in Hong Kong):
http://hk.apple.nextmedia.com/realtime/news/20150918/54221519

Territory media (Mainland China):
https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s?__biz=MzA4MzA2MTMzMA==∣=2652601585&idx=1&sn=b166f1882559786c2d413092a63cdd52&chksm=8413e3ccb3646adab7da27890f0968e7e6177b64f20f63e5f45bf76171bcea5a153eab8d20d6&mpshare=1&scene=1&srcid=1213dms3Pg2JdBRjcsoZlIA9#rd

Interviews in Creation TV, Straits Times & more