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Check FAQAbout Marta
Marta is a freelance journalist and documentary filmmaker covering Southeast Asia and Eastern Europe. She has been based in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, since 2012 but her work often takes her to neighbouring countries and to Poland, where she was born and lived until 2001. Her work has been published in The Guardian, where she is a contributor, Al Jazeera, Newsweek, Vice, Southeast Asia Globe, Voice of America and South China Morning Post, among many others. Marta’s investigations took her into the heart of one of Poland’s most notorious far right groups; saw her hang out with employees of a multinational company linked to a banned sect promoting polygamy in Malaysia, where she also exposed the practice of female genital mutilation; led her to highlight the plight of Nigerian football players trafficked to Cambodia. When not working as a journalist, she produces and shoots videos for private clients and non-profit organizations. Some of her clients include: the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights in Cambodia (UN OHCHR), World Wildlife Fund (WWF), SNV Development Organization, People in Need, RightBrain Foundation and Momentum.Travel. A human rights lawyer by education, Marta worked as a legal advisor and researcher for non-governmental organizations in the UK, India and Cambodia, before turning to journalism. She specialises in women’s rights and corporate-related human rights abuses. She is a member of Ruom, a Cambodia-based collective of journalists passionate about social reportage and is the co-founder of Turren, a video production company making pretty awesome videos. Marta is bilingual, fluent in English and Polish, with very strong French and German. She is available for freelance assignments worldwide.
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Portfolio
Is Cambodia’s thirst for sand putting communities and the Mekong at risk?
The article discusses the environmental and social impacts of the ING City land reclamation project in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. The project involves filling lakes with sand to create land for development, which has led to the destruction of wetlands, increased flood risks, and the displacement of local farming and fishing communities. Despite the economic slowdown due to the Covid-19 pandemic, construction has continued, exacerbating the demand for sand and threatening the Mekong River ecosystem. The article highlights concerns over unsustainable sand mining rates, which exceed the river's replenishment rates, and the potential for increased bank instability and erosion. The Ministry of Mines and Energy claims that sand mining is sustainable and beneficial for economic development, while experts and human rights groups warn of the severe consequences of these activities.
Bartek ‘doesn’t have a problem’ and isn’t ‘sick’. He has Asperger’s and is on a mission to challenge stereotypes.
Bartek Jakubowski, a 28-year-old from Warsaw with Asperger's syndrome, is challenging the negative stereotypes associated with autism. Diagnosed with autism at two and later with Asperger's at 16, Bartek is frustrated with media portrayal of the condition as a disease. He worked at a supported employment enterprise but felt out of place. His life improved after joining 'Zycie jest fajne', a cafe that employs individuals on the autism spectrum. Here, he found a sense of belonging and peer support. Inspired to change public perception, Bartek created a documentary, '‘A’ like a human being', which won the Grand Prix at the National Film Review for Persons on the Spectrum of Autism. He aims to show that people with Asperger's can communicate effectively and lead fulfilling lives.
Will Poland’s New Government Legalize Abortion?
An ex-diplomat and king’s head: Inside the secret global trade of Asian art
The article delves into the secretive global trade of Asian art, focusing on István Zelnik, a Hungarian ex-diplomat with a vast collection of Southeast Asian artifacts. It highlights the Cambodian government's efforts to reclaim looted antiquities and the challenges posed by private collections. Zelnik's controversial role in the trade, his connections with Cambodian officials, and his claims of legal acquisitions are scrutinized. The piece also discusses the broader issues of provenance, legal ambiguities, and the moral responsibilities of collectors, emphasizing the need for repatriation of cultural heritage.
How dams in China are destroying livelihoods downstream in Cambodia
The article tells the story of Tha Sara, a Cambodian widow who became a domestic worker in Saudi Arabia to pay off debts after her husband's death. It details her hardships abroad and the unchanged situation upon her return. The piece also explores the broader context of Cambodian villagers, particularly women, seeking work overseas due to economic pressures and the decline of local fish populations. The environmental aspect is highlighted by the degradation of the Stung Treng flooded forest, a Ramsar site, due to illegal fishing and the impact of hydroelectric dams on the Mekong River. The article includes insights from experts and organizations on the ecological damage and its implications for local communities. It concludes with Tha Sara's aspirations to work in Malaysia for a better future.
Laos farmers’ livelihoods hang by a thread as Chinese developer drains marsh
The article by Marta Kasztelan focuses on the story of Tha Sara, a Cambodian widow who worked as a domestic worker in Saudi Arabia to pay off debts and support her children after her husband's death. It highlights the economic hardships faced by villagers in northeastern Cambodia due to declining fish populations and the lure of overseas work. The piece also discusses the environmental degradation of the Stung Treng flooded forest, a Ramsar site, due to hydroelectric dams on the Mekong River. The dams, particularly in China and Laos, disrupt the natural flood cycle, leading to tree deaths and loss of biodiversity. The article touches on the broader pattern of abuse and exploitation of Cambodian domestic workers abroad despite bilateral agreements. Tha Sara's story is a personal reflection of the larger issues of economic necessity driving labor migration and the environmental crisis impacting local livelihoods.
With moments to escape Russia’s war, this is what Ukrainians took
The article recounts the experiences of Ukrainians who were forced to flee their country following the Russian invasion on February 24, 2022. It highlights the onset of the world's fastest-growing refugee crisis since World War II, with millions of Ukrainians, predominantly women and children, seeking refuge in various countries while men are required to stay and fight. The personal stories of five individuals, Kateryna, Jarda, Roman, Julia, and Maria, are shared, each having fled to a different country, including the United Kingdom, Czech Republic, United States, Romania, and Poland. The narrative focuses on the objects they carried with them and their journeys to safety.
Cambodia’s Valentine’s Day Rape Problem
A study reveals that a significant number of young Cambodian men view Valentine's Day as an opportunity to pressure or force their dates into sex, highlighting a troubling cultural issue. Despite a decrease in such attitudes since 2009, the problem persists, with authorities attempting to monitor guesthouses to prevent sexual violence. Experts argue that education on sexual rights and behavior is crucial, while some officials blame the influence of foreign cultures. The article underscores the need for substantial changes to address the normalization of rape and sexual violence in Cambodia.
Upstream dams are drowning Cambodia’s protected flooded forest
The article discusses the environmental degradation of the flooded forest in the Mekong River in northeast Cambodia, which has been a vital ecosystem for local communities, wildlife, and fish species. Kong Chanthy, head of community fisheries and ecotourism, recalls the forest's past abundance, but notes that up to 80% of it has died, affecting local fisheries and tourism. The decline is attributed to unseasonably high water levels caused by upstream dams in Laos and China. Professor Ian Baird of the University of Wisconsin-Madison confirms the forest's dire state, linking it to the cumulative impact of multiple dams. The Mekong River Commission acknowledges the potential impact of dam water release on river flow. The article also touches on the socio-economic consequences for local communities, with many seeking work elsewhere due to the collapse of traditional livelihoods. The piece includes insights from local officials and villagers, and mentions the support of the Pulitzer Center’s Rainforest Journalism Fund in its reporting.
‘I was screaming for help’: sold as brides in China, few Cambodian women escape their fate
The article discusses the plight of Cambodian women like Kunthea, who, due to economic hardships exacerbated by the Covid-19 pandemic, are lured by traffickers with promises of high-paying jobs in China. Instead, they find themselves sold into forced marriages with Chinese men. This situation is fueled by China's historical one-child policy, which has led to a significant gender imbalance and a high demand for brides. The article details the harrowing experiences of these women, including Kunthea's own story of being trafficked and eventually sold to a man in Jiangxi province. Despite the challenges, Kunthea managed to escape and return to Cambodia, where she reunited with her children and now works for a Chinese dam company. The article also touches on the broader issues of human trafficking, the legal challenges victims face, and the efforts by individuals and organizations to help these women.
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