Claudia Villalona.

I’m a storyteller, independent journalist and human rights specialist.

My work explores issues at the intersection of public interest and policy with a focus on human rights and immigration. I aim to reveal the impact of policy through grassroots reporting that highlights underreported stories and marginalized perspectives.

I hold a Master of International Affairs in Human Rights, Technology & Media from Columbia University and background experience in UN advocacy and international development.

**https://www.linkedin.com/in/claudia-villalona/**

<aside> <img src="/icons/bookmark_gray.svg" alt="/icons/bookmark_gray.svg" width="40px" /> Humanitarian Crisis on the California Border

My feature for The Progressive Magazine investigates Border Patrol's detention of asylum seekers along the border without food, water, shelter, or sanitation facilities. To go behind the headlines of the humanitarian crisis, I interviewed asylum seekers, shadowed volunteers at makeshift shelters, hiked clandestine migrant trails and attended legal clinics in Tijuana. This reporting strengthened my resolve to challenge harmful mainstream narratives through grassroots journalism that centers migrants' voices and humanizes the consequences of immigration and border policy.

The Open-Air Detention Camps of San Diego

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<aside> <img src="/icons/bookmark_gray.svg" alt="/icons/bookmark_gray.svg" width="40px" /> On-Campus Political Activism

My reporting on the tensions and protests on Columbia’s campus amid the genocide in Gaza, demonstrates my ability to cover divisive issues within an extremely charged environment. I covered concerns over antisemitic and anti-Arab rhetoric, lack of support for students from the university, and incidents of harassment, doxing and violence against pro-Palestine student demonstrators. I attended dozens of protests and interviewed students, professors, administrators and legal experts.

Columbia Not Supporting Pro-Palestine Students Attacked by Chemical Weapon on Campus

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Portfolio

Research, Reports & Publications

<aside> Human Rights Watch Capstone Consultancy

I served on a team of graduate student consultants to develop [policy proposals](https://www.sipa.columbia.edu/policy-proposals-bring-justice-victims-us-torture-iraq#:~:text=For over two decades%2C the wounds of,States military occupation of Iraq between 2003-2011.) on bringing justice to victims of U.S. torture in Iraq for the Human Rights Watch office in Washington, D.C. Our "victims-first" approach drew from hundreds of testimonies, military archives, and victim hearings to create a comprehensive assessment of the traumatic and irreparable harm inflicted. We examined unsuccessful congressional efforts alongside existing mechanisms like the Foreign Claims Act and Leahy War Victims Fund. Through the ACLU Torture Database and other archival sources, we evaluated past cases of victim reparations and compensation to inform our recommendations.

Iraq Torture Survivors Await US Justice

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<aside> Migrant Stories Project

As a graduate researcher at the Columbia University School of Social Work, I interviewed recently arrived asylum seekers, transcribing and translating their testimonies. Using a trauma-informed and survivor-centered approach, I ensured ethical interactions and accurate representation of their diverse lived experiences. Through archival and open-source research, I corroborated evidence and uncovered patterns in the data. My analysis revealed how social media and access to access to accurate and reliable information influences individuals' decision-making throughout the migration journey.

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<aside> UN Advocacy & Sustainable Development Policy

While working at a UN-adjacent advocacy organization, I created resonant editorial content and informative technical reports for a niche global audience of development experts and grassroots advocates.

For external publications, I oversaw the copyediting and publication processes in collaboration with graphic designers and contributing authors. I gained experience crafting accurate and accessible content while maintaining high editorial standards under tight deadlines. ****

Global SDG Accountability Report

As lead author of [The Global SDG Accountability Report](https://www.sdgaccountability.org/report.), I consulted key stakeholders, synthesized survey data from 300+ respondents, and combined insights from 20 case studies to evaluate progress toward the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

SDG Accountability Report - SDG Accountability Portal

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SDG 16+ Civil Society Toolkit

I distilled policy and entry points into capacity-strengthening resources for grassroots organizations interested in leveraging tools at the multilateral level.

Home - SDG16+ Civil Society Toolkit

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