UN and Human Rights Advocacy


  • December 2011 - The director of a documentary made by Callum Macrae for the UK's Channel 4, approached Dr. Varathan in New York and obtained a detailed interview about Sri Lanka's human rights violations and war crimes.
  • November 2012 - USA's Ilangai Tamil Sangam invited Dr. Varathan to make a speech at their annual event in New York before many foreign dignitaries and US politicians. The focus of the discussion centred around the human rights violations, crimes against humanity and genocide that was committed by the Sri Lankan government. It is noteworthy that he was interviewed by several foreign media representatives who were present at the event.
  • 2013 - Dr. Varathan participated in and provided witness to the Permanent People's Tribunal which occurred in Bremen, Germany.
    • When a special representative spent almost 2 days in New York, he provided a detailed account to them where his testimony was further submitted to the Office of the Human Rights High Commissioner (OCHAR).
  • 2014 - Dr. Varathan attended the UN's human rights session in Geneva where he addressed the council and participated in a side-event as well. Channel 4 had interviewed him again and broadcasted it to raise awareness regarding the Tamil genocide which was committed in 2009 and continues in a structural form.
  • 2015
    • May - Dr. Varathan travelled to London and participated in the 6th remembrance day of the 2009 Tamil genocide where he made a public address. Following the event, he met several parliamentarians in London and advocated for justice for the victims.
    • September and November - He spoke about a political solution based on the South African experience in an event arranged by, the leading human rights lawyer, Yasmin Sooka, in Johannesberg. At this event, he shared his experience in the war zone and emphasised the need to establish a political solution to ensure that justice was instated for the Tamils. 
    • When a campaign was launched to retrieve information regarding forcibly disappeared Tamils, Dr. Varathan provided his support for the campaign.
  • 2016 - Dr. Varathan travelled to South Africa to participate in a conference held and organised by Yasmin Sooka where he continued to raise awareness regarding the 2009 Tamil genocide.
  • 2017 - He continues to visit several universities such as McGill in Montreal, Quebec and many universities in London to conduct talks on human rights. He also continues to meet elected officials from:
    • the USA
    • the UK
    • Canada
    • Germany 
    • the UN
Dr. Varatharajah is currently attempting to document genocide whilst assisting the impoverished and advocating human rights on a global scale. He has also taken additional steps to convey his account across through a book entitled, "A Note from the No Fire Zone". He will also be playing his own role in an upcoming documentary film named, "The Lamp of Truth."

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