Julia Freedson

Julia Freedson joined the Watchlist on Children and Armed Conflict in 2001 and has been director since 2004. Watchlist is an international network of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) that documents a spectrum of violations against children in war zones across the globe and uses this information to influence policy makers to protect children’s security and rights. As director, she is responsible for shaping and managing Watchlist’s overall strategic direction and day-to-day operations. Julia has researched and written on the impact of armed conflict on children and adolescents in Afghanistan, Angola, Burundi, Colombia, Democratic Republic of Congo, Liberia, Nepal and other sites. The New York Times, National Public Radio, BBC News and dozens of other media outlets around the world have covered Watchlist’s work. She has presented on the topic of protecting war-affected children to the UN Security Council and other top international decision makers.

Prior to joining Watchlist Julia served as Legal Affairs Officer for the United Nations Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) and Assistant Director of Middle East and International Affairs for the Anti-Defamation League (ADL). She holds an M.A. in human rights from Columbia University School of International and Public Affairs and a B.A. in international affairs from Trinity College in Hartford, CT. She lives in Brooklyn, New York with her husband and daughter.

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