Tens of thousands have died, and hundreds of thousands more remain infected, facing physical and mental suffering, life-threatening obstacles, and significant impacts on their enjoyment of human rights.
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| Vice President Vo Thi Anh Xuan visited and presented gifts to the Center for Care, Nurturing, and Treatment of Victims of Agent Orange/Dioxin in Yen Bai commune, Ba Vi district, Hanoi on August 10th. (Source: Office of the President) |
The serious consequences
Dioxins are a group of highly toxic chemical compounds that are harmful to health; causing reproductive, developmental, and immune system problems; disrupting hormones and leading to cancer; and having a profound impact on life, depriving people of their basic rights not only from dioxin exposure but also leaving severe consequences for future generations.
Agent Orange/dioxin has deprived people of their right to be born as normal human beings, to live normal, healthy lives. Those born to victims of Agent Orange/dioxin are often not as normal as others. Most are born with physical deformities, intellectual disabilities, missing limbs, abnormal limbs, hydrocephalus, anencephaly, encephalocele, meningomyelocele, spinal cord herniation, etc.
On February 20, 2008, the Ministry of Health issued Decision No. 09/2008/QD-BYT promulgating a list of 17 diseases, disabilities, deformities, and birth defects related to exposure to the chemical toxin Dioxin, including: various types of cancer; malignant multiple myeloma; reproductive abnormalities; congenital deformities and defects; mental disorders, etc.
According to the Ministry of Health , hundreds of thousands of people have died from dioxin poisoning, hundreds of thousands of children have been born with deformities and birth defects, and millions of victims have suffered disabilities or illnesses due to Agent Orange/dioxin. Diseases caused by dioxin do not manifest immediately; they are likened to a "time bomb" of chemicals – invisible, latent, and only appearing after many years. By the time the disease is detected, treatment and cure are extremely difficult.
Agent Orange/dioxin restricts the right to procreate. It is not uncommon for couples to be deprived of the opportunity to become parents due to secondary infertility or maternal problems such as stillbirths, miscarriages, molar pregnancies, and abnormal fetal deaths. This toxin impacts genetic ecology, causing genetic mutations, resulting in children born with congenital defects and incomplete physical and intellectual development, lacking normal health.
Therefore, many people exposed to dioxin, after experiencing multiple birth defects, stillbirths, or premature deaths, have stopped having children for fear of affecting their offspring. Their right to continue their lineage is thus also taken away.
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| These "Agent Orange girls" at the Vietnam Center for Social Protection of Agent Orange/Dioxin Victims, Thach That District, Hanoi. (Source: Center for Social Protection) |
Agent Orange/dioxin also indirectly restricts victims' enjoyment of their rights, such as the right to education; the right to participate in civil and political activities; and the right to work. Because of these health "disabilities" (physical, intellectual, and mental), many of them are unable to attend school, study, or work like normal people.
Furthermore, in some cases, individuals with intellectual disabilities, loss of consciousness, lack of awareness, or missing or incomplete limbs may depend on the support of family members for daily activities, be unable to participate in labor like normal people, and have reduced opportunities for education and employment.
The majority of them lack or are incapable of civil capacity; their limited awareness and understanding of social issues make it difficult for them to integrate into the community and participate in voting, running for office, or exercising other civil and political rights; consequently, their opportunities for employment are also narrowed.
Furthermore, victims of Agent Orange/dioxin also create significant pressure on society. These challenges include healthcare for victims, social security, health insurance, and social insurance. Most families of Agent Orange/dioxin victims live in poverty, largely belonging to poor or near-poor households. Their income is often low and unstable; most of their income is spent on healthcare. In reality, their main source of income relies on social welfare and community support.
The effects of Agent Orange/dioxin are not limited to the first generation; more dangerously, the consequences have now spread to the fourth generation. The children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren of Agent Orange/dioxin victims mostly suffer from birth defects, deformities, and vegetative states.
According to data from the Association of Victims of Agent Orange/Dioxin in 2022, there are currently over 150,000 victims in the second generation (children), 35,000 in the third generation (grandchildren), and about 6,000 in the fourth generation (great-grandchildren) nationwide. Surveys in some southern provinces show that 23.7% of those surveyed have 1-3 children with disabilities; 5.7% have grandchildren with disabilities. The cancer rate is 14.9%, mostly among victims over 50 years old.
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| US Ambassador to Vietnam Marc Knapper, along with a delegation of veterans and relatives of US Marines, visited, interacted with, and presented gifts to victims of Agent Orange at the Center for the Protection of Agent Orange Victims and Disadvantaged Children in Da Nang City on September 6th. (Source: VAVA) |
Supporting victims, ensuring human rights.
Over the years, the Party and the State have always paid attention to assisting victims of Agent Orange/dioxin to alleviate some of their difficulties in life.
Many guidelines and policies have been issued, including Directive No. 43-CT/TW dated May 14, 2015, on strengthening the Party's leadership over the work of addressing the consequences of chemical toxins to ensure human rights; minimizing negative impacts, contributing to protecting the legitimate rights and interests of victims of Agent Orange/dioxin contamination.
Every year, the State allocates over 10,000 billion VND in monthly allowances to victims of Agent Orange/dioxin. Currently, nationwide, more than 320,000 people exposed to Agent Orange/dioxin and their children are entitled to preferential policies for those who have rendered meritorious services to the revolution. Families affected by Agent Orange/dioxin receive health insurance and free medical examinations and treatment.
Together with the Government, all levels and sectors, political and social organizations, businesses, and philanthropists both domestically and internationally are actively implementing and participating in activities to support victims of Agent Orange/dioxin.
From 2004 to December 2023, the Association of Victims of Agent Orange/Dioxin raised over 4.049 billion VND, spending over 4.023 billion VND on care and assistance for victims; in the first six months of 2024 alone, it raised over 348 billion VND, spending over 320 billion VND on care and assistance for victims.
In 2023, the "Joining Hands to Alleviate the Pain of Agent Orange Victims" program mobilized over 2 billion VND, of which over 1.6 billion VND was allocated. This included supporting the construction of 14 new houses with a total of 930 million VND; visiting and giving gifts directly to nearly 600 victims in 22 provinces and cities with a total of 568.5 million VND; and supporting the care of victims at the Social Protection Center under the Central Association with over 140 million VND.
| Every year, the State allocates over 10,000 billion VND in monthly allowances to victims of Agent Orange/dioxin; currently, nationwide, more than 320,000 people exposed to Agent Orange/dioxin and their children are entitled to preferential policies for those who have rendered meritorious services to the revolution. Families affected by Agent Orange/dioxin receive health insurance and free medical examinations and treatment. |
Currently, hundreds of thousands of severely disabled people, including victims of Agent Orange/dioxin, have received orthopedic and rehabilitation services. Tens of thousands of disabled children, including those indirectly affected by Agent Orange/dioxin, attend inclusive and specialized schools; 12 Peace Villages, Friendship Villages, and numerous centers for nurturing disabled children, operating in a centralized/semi-residential format, care for thousands of victims, mainly children with deformities and disabilities due to the effects of Agent Orange/dioxin; and centers for reproductive and genetic health counseling in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City are actively working to reduce the rate of birth defects.
Healthcare activities for victims of Agent Orange/dioxin are diverse in content and form: preferential allowances; organizing examinations and assessments of diseases, deformities, and disabilities; providing care, treatment, rehabilitation, steam therapy, and detoxification. In addition, new houses are built and repaired, gifts are given, and scholarships are provided to victims. With the collective efforts of society, the physical and mental suffering of Agent Orange/dioxin victims is somewhat alleviated.
However, ensuring the rights of victims of Agent Orange/dioxin faces many obstacles, as they are a particularly vulnerable group. Meanwhile, coordination among different levels of government, departments, and organizations in some localities in implementing policies, regulations, and ensuring the rights of Agent Orange/dioxin victims lacks uniformity.
In some areas, the mobilization of social resources has yielded low results, not commensurate with the actual potential of the locality. The awareness of a segment of the population remains inadequate, even exhibiting indifference, apathy, discrimination, and prejudice.
Alleviating the suffering caused by Agent Orange demonstrates humanity and compassion, and is a call of conscience and responsibility for the entire political system and society. To better ensure the rights of Agent Orange/dioxin victims, the following solutions should be focused on:
Firstly, it is necessary to raise awareness and responsibility among all organizations and individuals regarding the need to ensure the rights of victims of Agent Orange/dioxin. Multi-media communication efforts should be intensified, targeting not only domestic citizens but also Vietnamese expatriates abroad. The content of the communication should focus on the Party and State's policies and guidelines regarding Agent Orange/dioxin victims, the achievements made, and the difficulties faced by victims, so that everyone can work together to alleviate the suffering caused by Agent Orange.
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| The art exchange program "Lighting Up the Future" - a practical activity commemorating the 63rd anniversary of the Agent Orange disaster in Vietnam (August 10, 1961 - August 10, 2024) - took place on the evening of August 8 in Hanoi. (Photo: Dieu Linh) |
Secondly, continue to thoroughly understand and effectively implement the Party and State's guidelines and policies, such as Directive 43-CT/TW dated May 14, 2015, of the Central Committee of the Party (11th term) on strengthening the Party's leadership over the work of addressing the consequences of chemical toxins used by the US in the war in Vietnam; Decision No. 2215/QD-TTg dated December 28, 2021, of the Prime Minister promulgating the National Action Plan for overcoming the consequences of chemical toxins/Dioxin after the war in Vietnam for the period 2021-2030...
It is necessary to recognize that promoting the human rights of victims of Agent Orange/dioxin is a task for the entire political system and a responsibility of the entire society. Addressing the consequences of dioxin contamination after the war and improving the quality of life for victims should be a regular task, integrated into leadership resolutions, social security programs, and annual socio-economic development plans of localities.
In addition, it is necessary to improve inspection and supervision; promptly resolve outstanding issues and obstacles; and prevent corruption during the implementation process.
Thirdly, we must promote the role of political and social organizations, in which the Association of Victims of Agent Orange/Dioxin must truly be the representative organization protecting the rights of victims, meeting the requirements and tasks in the new situation. We must regularly improve and enhance the quality of their activities at all levels.
Strengthening effective coordination between the Association and other socio-political organizations, calling for support and assistance from businesses, philanthropists, organizations, and individuals to create resources in promoting the human rights of victims of Agent Orange/dioxin.
Fourth, strengthen healthcare activities and develop counseling, examination, and treatment services for victims of Agent Orange/dioxin. Improve counseling and guidance for victims to access medical examination, treatment, and rehabilitation services at healthcare centers, facilities, or at home. Organize the creation of health records for monitoring, examination, and management, promptly detecting related diseases; provide examination, treatment, and rehabilitation for victims at healthcare facilities, rehabilitation centers for war veterans, and at home as needed.
Fifth, persistently fight for justice for Vietnamese victims of Agent Orange/dioxin , making the world better understand the severe consequences of the war that the Vietnamese people are still suffering; the physical and mental pain, hardships, and obstacles in the lives of Vietnamese Agent Orange/dioxin victims so that the international community can empathize and share their plight.
According to data from the Ministry of Defense, from 1961 to 1971, approximately 80 million liters of chemical toxins, 60% of which was Agent Orange containing 366 kg of dioxin, were sprayed by the US military over South Vietnam, causing an unprecedented Agent Orange disaster in human history. Approximately 4.8 million Vietnamese people were exposed, over 3 million are victims of chemical toxins, hundreds of thousands have died, and hundreds of thousands of victims in the second, third, and fourth generations are struggling daily with incurable diseases caused by the toxins. |
Source: https://baoquocte.vn/bao-dam-quyen-cho-nan-nhan-chat-doc-da-cam-287022.html
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