Felipe Castillejo Gaitan

WORK HISTORY

EDUCATION

ABOUT FELIPE CASTILLEJO GAITAN

Hola! I’m Felipe Castillejo, a Colombian Human Rights and OSINT Researcher based in Berlin With 3+ years of experience in both consultancy and ethnographic research, I am interested in studying how emerging technologies and disinformation impact marginalized communities, democratic institutions, and societal fairness. Wide-ranging Background– I have contributed to international organizations, consulting firms and research centers, applying OSINT methodologies, digital verification techniques, qualitative and policy analysis to advance transparency, accountability, and fundamental rights access and protection through evidence-based approaches. Prior Experience– I have worked with Amnesty International’s Digital Verification Corps, where I have carried out desk-research, verification of human rights violations to support the Citizen Evidence Lab\'s goals. Currently, I co-coordinate the first EU DVC Chapter at the Hertie School. At the WZB – Hildesheim University, I research civil society responses to disinformation and digital governance in polarized contexts in Latin America. My other experience includes projects with Forum Syd, GiZ GmbH, USAID, and Chemonics International, focusing on public policy evaluation, migration, peace studies, and development. What am I most proud of? – Through my research and fieldwork, I helped Venezuelan migrants in La Guajira Department liaise with local authorities, ensuring they understood their rights, accessed services, and mitigated negative stereotypes affecting their inclusion. I also worked with demobilized FARC combatants and intake communities in Northern Colombia, facilitating access to sexual and reproductive rights, as well as gender-based violence prevention resources. Additionally, I contributed to forensic search efforts in Meta Department, supporting initiatives to identify and locate forcibly disappeared persons, ensuring their dignified return to families. What else drives me-I am passionate about endurance sports and have completed thriathlons, a marathon, and several half marathons. I am always looking for new races. Training for these challenges requires commitment, strategic thinking, and adaptability- qualities I apply in my research and professional work. Just like in long-distance racing, progress in complex projects comes from persistence, problem-solving, and the ability to adjust course when needed. Whether tackling a physical challenge or a human rights issue, I thrive on setting ambitious goals, refining strategies, and pushing limits to achieve meaningful results.