Eight UN Treaty Bodies & Stockholm Convention Warnings Dear Members of the United Nations Treaty Bodies,
- agentorangechild
- May 6
- 2 min read
I am writing to express deep concern over Australia’s persistent non-compliance with the recommendations issued by your esteemed committee.
Despite multiple warnings and detailed recommendations, the Australian government has failed to take adequate action to address the systemic issues highlighted, particularly concerning the intergenerational harm caused by TCDD (Agent Orange) exposure.
As a direct victim and advocate for affected individuals, I have documented extensive evidence of these violations, which are available on my website:
This includes correspondence with various Australian authorities, medical records, and testimonies from other affected individuals.
Warnings Australia has received
1. Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (CESCR)
Date: May 2011
Concern: CESCR urged Australia to ensure the highest attainable standard of health for all, including addressing the long-term health impacts of exposure to hazardous substances like TCDD (dioxin).
2. Committee on the Rights of the Child (CRC)
Date: June 2012
Concern: CRC raised concerns about the impact of environmental toxins on children’s health, recommending Australia take preventative action and provide support to affected children and their families.
3. Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD)
Date: September 2013
Concern: CRPD emphasized the obligation to support individuals with disabilities caused by environmental factors such as toxic exposure, ensuring access to health care and support services.
4. Committee Against Torture (CAT)
Date: November 2014
Concern: CAT criticized Australia’s failure to investigate or remedy long-term harm from toxic exposure, including to children and families of veterans, and called for redress and support services.
5. Human Rights Committee (CCPR)
Date: 2017 Review
Concern: The Committee highlighted concerns under the right to life, non-discrimination, and access to justice, urging Australia to investigate and acknowledge state responsibility in environmental harm cases.
6. Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD)
Date: December 2017
Concern: CERD called out Australia for continuing environmental health disparities, especially impacting Indigenous communities and families exposed to persistent organic pollutants like TCDD.
7. Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW)
Date: 2021 Review
Concern: CEDAW expressed concern that Australia failed to recognize or respond to women and mothers affected by toxic exposure and intergenerational harm, violating the right to health and family life.
Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants
Australia’s Ratification: 20 May 2004
Entry into Force: 18 August 2004
Relevance (2011–2024): Australia remains obligated to prevent, reduce, and report on dioxin (TCDD) contamination under this treaty. Continued failure to act may constitute non-compliance, especially where intergenerational harm has been reported but ignored.
The lack of action not only undermines the credibility of international human rights mechanisms but also perpetuates the suffering of countless individuals and families. I urge your committee to take immediate steps to hold Australia accountable and ensure the implementation of your recommendations.
I respectfully ask the United Nations treaty bodies to:
Recognize Australia’s ongoing failure to act on multiple UN warnings and obligations under the Stockholm Convention.
Acknowledge the human rights impacts of second-generation harm from TCDD exposure.
Recommend that Australia disclose withheld records, provide medical recognition and care, and investigate intergenerational toxic harm.
Refer the matter for further international scrutiny if Australia remains non-compliant.
Ensure continued monitoring and include this issue in future reviews.
Thank you for your attention to this urgent matter.
Warm Agent Orange Burns regards
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