Jan De Deken is a Belgian documentary filmmaker, writer, journalist and founder of The Polar Project, a crossmedia platform that aims to build constructive, inclusive solutions on our biggest social and environmental challenges, including loss of biodiversity, climate change, inequality, mental health and loss of identity.

Currently his main works-in-progress are the documentary films Holy Ecstatic Sunday and Tipping Point, addressing the future impacts of climate change and the lack of political action to address this issue with the urge it needs.

Jan started his career as a freelance correspondent in Brazil, made documentaries in India, El Salvador, Zambia, Brazil, Alaska and Belgium, and wrote in-depth articles from 40 countries. He was among the first western journalists to report on the violence against the Rohingya minority in Burma, uncovered the commercial exploitation of rape victims in eastern Congo, and revealed Boko Haram violence in the Nigerian town of Chibok, concealed by the Nigerian army. His articles are published in the main quality news magazines in Belgium and The Netherlands, such as Knack, De Groene Amsterdammer, Vrij Nederland and Trouw. His documentaries are broadcasted on Belgian public television (Terzake, Vranckx).

In April 2018 Jan published the narrative non-fiction travel book 'Milk, Honey, Kerosine' (Querido), about his worldwide journey researching what makes people happy and unhappy in different cultures and life circumstances.

Jan De Deken

Info

Name
Jan De Deken
Title
Documentary filmmaker, author, investigative journalist
Expertise
international relations, social (in)justice, conflict & development
Country
Belgium
City
Ghent
LinkedIn

Supported projects

Melting Land

  • Energy
  • Environment

AKIAK - In the fight against global warming, the Arctic is one of the most important front lines. There, the earth is warming three times faster than average.

Climate slaves

  • Environment
  • Migration
  • Human Rights

NEW DELHI - According to the Thomson Reuters Foundation, India is the most dangerous country in the world for women. Nowhere more girls are sold as slaves. In melting Himalayan glaciers, prolonged drought, devastating storms and disappearing islands, human traffickers found new allies. Floods make millions of people homeless, displaced women are easy victims.

Inocencia asesinada

  • Armed conflict
  • Healthcare
  • Religion

EL SALVADOR - "When I woke up in the hospital, there were police officers around me. They said that I had killed my child." Maria Teresa De Rivera is 34 when she gets a miscarriage on the toilet. Due to strict abortion laws in her country, she is sentenced to 40 years in prison. She not only loses a child, but also her freedom. Under pressure from, among others, the Catholic Church, El Salvador has one of the strictest abortion laws in the world.

Why NGOs don't care about LGBT rights

  • Equality
  • Human Rights

KAMPALA - Uganda is known as one of the world's worst countries to be lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender (LGBT). LGBT people risk cell for fourteen years and are victims of violence and discrimination. Ugandan church leaders call to lynch them, political leaders use them as lightning rods for the real problems.