I Joined the WHO
- agentorangechild
- Apr 30
- 2 min read
– Because Second-Generation Survivors Deserve a Voice
Today, I took a step that I never imagined would be possible when I first started speaking out about the lifelong effects of TCDD (Agent Orange) exposure:
I joined the World Health Organization’s Civil Society Engagement Mechanism (CSEM).
This means I now have an official way to speak directly into global health policy conversations. And I’m doing it on behalf of all the children—like me—who were born with disabilities, deformities, chronic illnesses, and lifelong trauma because of our parents’ exposure to dioxins during the Vietnam War.
For decades, we’ve been silenced. Forgotten. Dismissed.
Governments call it “residual damage.” They call us “anecdotal.”
But we are real. Our suffering is real. Our medical records, disabilities, and histories are real.
Joining the WHO’s CSEM means that I can now bring our truth directly into the rooms where global health decisions are made. Not as an afterthought. Not as a statistic. But as a voice for justice.
Why This Matters
I’m not a doctor. I’m not a scientist. I’m a survivor—one of the many second-generation children who carry the invisible weight of a war we didn’t fight, but whose consequences we live with every day.
The WHO has long focused on cleanups, remediation, and chemical safety. But not enough attention is being paid to the human legacy—to the children who are still living with the consequences.
This is what I’m bringing to the table:
Medical documentation of my own 17 conditions linked to TCDD exposure
International research showing similar patterns in other children of veterans
A call for recognition, support, and human rights accountability
A clear voice saying: This isn’t over, and we matter.
What Comes Next
By joining the WHO’s CSEM, I’m now connected to a global network of civil society voices working to hold power to account—especially when it comes to the health of vulnerable and overlooked populations.
I’ll be contributing to statements, responding to WHO consultations, and pushing for change through every mechanism available.
If you’ve ever felt unseen, unheard, or dismissed because of intergenerational harm from Agent Orange, know this:
You are not alone. And your voice matters.
I’m here. I’m speaking. And I won’t stop.
Follow my journey, share your story, and help me raise awareness. Together, we can make this invisible legacy visible.
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