Doctors

International Law Overrules Bureaucratic Delays — Ignorance Is No Longer an Option

As medical professionals, you have an ethical and professional responsibility to uphold the health and rights of those affected by environmental harm. This includes recognizing the medical and social impacts of second-generation exposure to TCDD (Agent Orange), a responsibility enshrined in your medical oath.

I’ve had enough of the bureaucracy circling, passing the buck, and sidestepping responsibility.

International law overrides domestic laws and any gaps in the system that allow harm to continue.

Australia has already been warned. Multiple times.

The United Nations has issued six separate warnings to Australia regarding its failure to address the rights of children exposed to TCDD (Agent Orange), specifically under the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) and the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC).

• April 2011: The UN Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) urged Australia to take immediate steps to address the needs of the children of veterans exposed to toxic chemicals.

• February 2016: The UN Committee on the Rights of the Child (CRC) issued a formal recommendation, calling on Australia to recognize and support the children of Vietnam veterans exposed to Agent Orange.

• March 2017: The UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (CESCR) reiterated the importance of recognizing the health and disability impacts of Agent Orange exposure on subsequent generations.

• July 2018: The UN Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities issued a report highlighting Australia’s failure to provide support and recognition to individuals suffering from second-generation Agent Orange exposure.

• April 2019: The UN Human Rights Committee expressed concerns about discriminatory health policies that exclude second-generation victims of Agent Orange exposure from support and care.

• October 2020: The UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) once again urged Australia to address the intergenerational impacts of Agent Orange exposure, particularly in relation to health and disability rights.

But I’m not waiting anymore.

I am reminding them — and the world — that we will not accept ignorance anymore. The rights of children affected by toxic exposure cannot and will not be ignored. This is no longer about policy; it’s about human lives.

I will keep pushing, using every tool available, until this wrong is righted.

Action Required:

I respectfully request the following from you as my medical providers, in accordance with your professional oath to advocate for health, justice, and human rights:

1. Review my formal complaint regarding second-generation Agent Orange (TCDD) exposure and the denial of proper care and recognition for affected individuals.

2. Support my claim by providing medical documentation and any relevant reports that connect my health conditions to TCDD exposure.

3. Advocate for policy change by reaching out to relevant government bodies and international organizations to call for immediate action and recognition of second-generation exposure.

4. Provide a written response detailing how you will support my ongoing advocacy efforts and any medical actions you intend to take to support my case.

Deadline for Response:

I expect a formal response by the 30th June 2025 to ensure that this matter is addressed in a timely and effective manner. Should I not receive a response by this date, I will be forced to escalate this matter further through international legal channels, including the International Criminal Court (ICC) and the International Court of Justice (IJC), as part of my ongoing pursuit of justice for those harmed by the Australian government’s failure to act.