Email to Human Rights Watch Australia.

Subject: Request for Support Regarding Second-Generation Harm from Agent Orange Exposure

Dear Human Rights Officer 

I hope this message finds you well. I am writing to seek the support of Human Rights Watch Australia in advocating for the recognition and care of individuals, like myself, who have been affected by the second-generation harm caused by Agent Orange (TCDD) exposure.

I am the child of a Vietnam War veteran who served between 1969 and 1970, and I suffer from a range of debilitating health conditions that I believe are directly linked to the intergenerational effects of Agent Orange exposure. These include chronic back pain, neurological disorders, degenerative disc disease, and numerous other serious health conditions. Despite substantial evidence supporting the long-term effects of Agent Orange exposure on the children of veterans, I have been consistently denied recognition and support by government agencies in Australia.

As you may be aware, Australia has been formally warned four times by the United Nations about its failure to address the impacts of Agent Orange exposure. The UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (CESCR) raised concerns about Australia’s failure to provide appropriate care and compensation to those affected by Agent Orange. These concerns were addressed during the following instances:

1. 1999 – The CESCR issued a recommendation urging Australia to recognize the intergenerational health impacts of Agent Orange exposure and take action to support affected families.

2. 2007 – The UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights and Toxic Waste raised further concerns regarding the lack of response from the Australian government on the harm caused by Agent Orange, highlighting the government’s failure to properly address the health needs of affected families.

3. 2011 – Australia was once again called out by the CESCR, this time in relation to its lack of compensation and health services for second-generation victims of Agent Orange exposure. The UN explicitly noted Australia’s failure to provide adequate medical treatment or recognition of these health impacts.

4. 2017 – The UN Committee on the Rights of the Child (CRC) issued a warning about Australia’s ongoing neglect of children of Vietnam veterans, urging the country to acknowledge the lasting effects of Agent Orange exposure on this generation and to ensure the right to health and protection under the Convention on the Rights of the Child.

Despite these repeated warnings, the Australian government has failed to take meaningful action to support individuals like myself, who continue to suffer from the intergenerational effects of Agent Orange exposure. This ongoing neglect constitutes a significant violation of our human rights, particularly our right to health, as enshrined in international human rights conventions.

To further support my advocacy, I have developed a website to document my personal health history and the growing body of evidence linking my medical conditions to second-generation TCDD exposure. The website also includes research from international studies that highlight the broader impact of Agent Orange exposure on the children of veterans. You can access the website here:

https://agentorangechild.wixsite.com/agent-orange-child

I am requesting that Human Rights Watch Australia support my efforts to raise awareness about this critical issue. Specifically, I am asking for your assistance in advocating for the Australian government to take responsibility for the ongoing harm caused by Agent Orange exposure and provide adequate healthcare, compensation, and recognition to those affected. I also hope that HRW can assist in engaging with international bodies such as the United Nations, the International Criminal Court (ICC), and other relevant organizations to hold the Australian government accountable for its continued failure to address these human rights violations.

Please feel free to contact me at AgentOrangeChild@gmail.com for further information or to discuss how we can move forward with this important advocacy. I am happy to provide additional documentation, including medical records, government correspondence, and relevant reports.

Thank you for your time and consideration. I look forward to your response and hope that Human Rights Watch can play a crucial role in addressing this long-standing injustice.

Sincerely,

Danielle