Mr. Varun. VM

Assistant Professor (Research)

Email – varun.vm@rru.ac.in

About Mr. Varun VM

Varun VM, an advocate, registered with the Bar Council of Kerala, concentrates his practice in preventing/countering transnational crime, terrorism and violent extremism. He was recommended thrice as an officer cadet in the Indian Army. He was born and raised in Trivandrum, Kerala and holds a Bachelor of Arts & Bachelor of Law degree from Symbiosis International University. He obtained a Master of Laws in Transnational Crime & Justice from the United Nations Interregional Crime & Justice Research Institute, Turin. He holds certifications in criminal justice administration and professional criminal investigation. He is a verified member of the International Criminal Court Bar Association, Hague and Counter-extremism hub. His articles on various aspects of human rights found places in national and international magazines, including EUCRIM and UN i- library. He served the Platform for Peace & Humanity, Slovakia, as the Youth Ambassador for the Right to Peace for India. He has contributed to the research and drafting of the youth declaration on international law on the human right to peace and crimes against peace. For three months from July 2022, he pursued career as a counter- terrorism research fellow at the Rise to Peace Washington DC.

Areas of Academic and Research Interest
Qualification Board/University Year of Passing
Master of Laws in Transnational Crime & Justice University for Peace, Costa Rica 2021
Bachelor of Arts & Bachelor of Law Symbiosis International University, Pune 2018
Master of Arts in Criminal Law & Forensic Science NALSAR University (DDE) Pursuing third semester (2021-23)
Experience (Current to Last)
  • Counter-terrorism research fellow, Rise to Peace, Washington DC (remote), (July 2022- October 2022).
  • Youth Ambassador for the Right to Peace for India, Platform for Peace & Humanity (remote), (August 2021- October 2022).
  • Criminal Defense Lawyer, District & Sessions Court, Trivandrum, (February 2020- July 2022).
Honours/ Awards/ Achievements/ Appreciation
  • Recommended as Officer Cadet in the Indian Army (AIR 04; 10+2 TES 28 th).
  • Post-graduate certificate in criminal justice administration (National Law University, Delhi via Swayam).
  • Certified Professional Criminal Investigation (Mc Afee Institute, USA).
  • Certificate in International Human Rights Law (Universite Catholique de Louvain).
Publications
  • Books/ Conference proceedings/ Monographs:
  • Refereed Journal Articles/ Magazine:
  • Gender perspective on disarmament (Co-authored book titled ‘an anthology by modern legal authors’).
  • Human rights-based approach to combat transnational crime (EUCRIM, Max Planck Institute for the Study of Crime, Security, and the Law).
  • ‘He for She’: the new wave of cultural revolution (United Nations I-library).
Participation in Conference / Seminar / Workshop
  • Virtual Training for Counsel, International Criminal Court Bar Association (2021).
  • Online Training on UNSC Res. 1540(2002), United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs.
Membership
  • Affiliate member, International Criminal Court Bar Association, Hague.
  • Verified author, European Criminal Law Associations’ Forum.
  • Verified member, counter-extremism hub.
Consultancy Projects / Research Project
  • Submitted Research proposal on ‘Al-Qaeda Taliban Nexus’ for Rise to Peace, Washington DC.