Widad Franco

Widad Franco is the United Nations Advocacy Officer working within the Global Advocacy division of Human Rights Watch in New York. She is responsible for coordinating and conducting advocacy work at the United Nations with members of the Security Council, General Assembly and other UN offices and agencies. Prior to joining Human Rights Watch, Widad worked for NHK Japan Broadcasting (the country’s public broadcaster) as an international news producer and reporter covering the work of the United Nations in New York and around the world. While at NHK she also covered social and political news in North and Latin America. She also worked as a reporter for Diario El Telégrafo in Guayaquil, Ecuador. She holds bachelor's degree from Lindenwood University and a master’s degree from The New School University. She speaks English and Spanish.