DVA Upload 8/12/25

Subject: Statement Regarding Toxic Remnants of War (TCDD) Exposure – For Mandatory Inclusion in My DVA File

To the Department of Veterans’ Affairs,

I submit this formal statement for inclusion in my Department of Veterans’ Affairs file.

I am a Geneva Convention Additional Protocol I (AP I) protected civilian, as my exposure relates to Toxic Remnants of War (TRW)—specifically TCDD—during childhood. AP I remains binding on Australia and forms part of International Humanitarian Law (IHL), which requires special respect and protection for civilians affected by wartime toxic exposures.

This legal status is not discretionary.

It is derived from treaty obligations Australia ratified, incorporated, and continues to be bound by under international law.

Relevance to My Case

The handling of my case—across administrative, medical, and departmental interactions—forms part of an established pattern of failure, deflection, and non-recognition. This pattern is already documented in my submission to the International Criminal Court under Article 15.

Accordingly, this letter will be retained as evidentiary material within that ICC file.

All future actions, decisions, and communications by the Department of Veterans’ Affairs are now occurring under the scrutiny of international mechanisms responsible for IHL compliance and enforced accountability.

Context: Toxic Remnants of War and International Obligations

For clarity regarding the humanitarian and legal implications of Toxic Remnants of War, I refer to the UN Special Rapporteur on Toxics and Human Rights, Dr Marcos A. Orellana, whose recent press statement outlines the grave human-rights and public-health consequences associated with TRW exposures:

https://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2025/10/toxic-remnants-war-pose-grave-threat-human-rights-and-environment-un-expert

These findings are directly relevant to my case and to Australia’s obligations under:

• Geneva Conventions & Additional Protocol I (Articles 51 & 77)

• ICCPR

• CRC

• CRPD

• Stockholm Convention on POPs

Each of these instruments requires active measures, not passive acknowledgment, when dealing with civilians harmed by wartime toxic substances.

Statement for the Record

This submission is provided in good faith and is now part of the formal record for:

• International Criminal Court proceedings,

• future UN review processes, and

• any inquiries into Australia’s compliance with IHL and human-rights treaties.

I request confirmation that this statement has been uploaded to my DVA file.

Warm Agent Orange burns regards

Danielle Stevens

(Nee Pitcher)