The women who risk their lives for others' rights

East Asian countries rank among some of the most dangerous in the world for human rights activists.

We spoke to five courageous women from the region who attract additional harassment by flouting traditional gender roles, and have suffered everything from solitary confinement to psychological torture as a result of their work.

Perhaps the most chilling experience is that of Chinese lawyer Wang Yu.

It was after 1 o'clock in the morning but Wang Yu couldn't sleep. She was worried. Why hadn't they called?

Her husband and 16-year-old son were on the way to a Beijing airport to board a plane to Australia where her son planned to finish his schooling.

They should have passed immigration by now. But despite repeated attempts to make contact she couldn't get through.

She anxiously messaged friends who tried to reassure her.

But it was when the electricity cut out and the wifi failed that she knew something was seriously wrong. Then she heard the sound of men outside her front door. "Who's there?" she cried out.

It was only a matter of time before they burst in, she thought, but then the noises stopped.

Maybe they were just trying to intimidate her, as had happened so many times before.