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| Presenting gifts to Agent Orange/dioxin victims |
Bringing together more than 3.200 members
From its early days with only a few dozen members at the time of its establishment, Hue City Association of Victims of Agent Orange/Dioxin has gradually confirmed its role. Beyond serving as a bridge to deliver State policies to beneficiaries, the association has proactively mobilized social resources and connected with numerous domestic and international organizations to provide material and spiritual support, create livelihood opportunities, and participate in protecting the legitimate rights of Agent Orange victims. Currently, more than 3.200 members are active within the association’s organizations. Following the implementation of the two-tier local government model, the Association for Victims of Agent Orange/Dioxin has so far been consolidated only at the city level. However, all rights and resources continue to be delivered to its members.
Communication and advocacy work has been strengthened through diverse, appropriate, and effective forms. The association has coordinated with Vietnam Association of Victims of Agent Orange/Dioxin and central and local media agencies to step up outreach activities, promptly honoring and commending collectives and individuals with significant contributions.
Coordination with Vietnam Fatherland Front Committees at all levels in building a strong association structure has been given particular emphasis. The association’s “For Vietnam’s Agent Orange Victims” emulation movement, linked with the “Action for Agent Orange Victims” campaign launched by the Central Committee of the Viet Nam Fatherland Front, has been widely implemented and achieved high effectiveness. Party committees and authorities have created more favorable conditions for the associations to operate.
Mr. Tran Van Trung - Chairman of Hue City Association for Victims of Agent Orange/Dioxin confirmed that the association’s widespread and increasingly strong development serves as a solid support and a compassionate home for members and Agent Orange victims, and as a core force in the struggle for justice for Agent Orange/dioxin victims, as well as in the care and assistance provided to victims in Hue.
Promoting the role of the association
Since 2000, in implementing policies for Agent Orange victims, Hue City has resolved policy entitlements for approximately 4.000 people; among them, 3.000 were resistance fighters and 1.000 were their biological children.
Mr. Ho Van Sanh - Chairman of the Association of Victims of Agent Orange/Dioxin of Phu Loc District said: “We have more than 270 members, including about 30 honorary members. From this base, the association mobilizes resources from benefactors and member contributions to build a fund to visit and support Agent Orange victims in the area. Many families have successfully engaged in livestock raising and cultivation, stabilizing their lives”.
Reality has also shown that associations at all levels have performed well in advisory and social criticism work, identifying shortcomings and obstacles in policy implementation to reflect them to functional agencies and report to competent authorities. They also actively participated in reviewing and proposing amendments and supplements to policies and regimes for resistance fighters exposed to chemical toxins and their biological children suffering from Agent Orange-related aftereffects.
In particular, the City Association has closely coordinated with the Central Association to engage and work with numerous domestic and international charitable organizations to mobilize additional resources, such as the Peace Flower Fund, MEDICO (Swiss International Medical Center), the French Association for Children Affected by Dioxin (VNED), the Vietnamese Buddhist Association Tam Nguyen, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the Inclusion Project, the Seeds of Hope Project, Young Vietnamese Entrepreneurs, the Chemical Corps (Ministry of National Defense), Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of Hue City, and the Red Cross at all levels, to further support disadvantaged victim families.
Efforts to seek justice for Agent Orange/dioxin victims continue to be carried out through new forms and measures aligned with the Party’s and State’s viewpoints, policies, and foreign relations guidelines, contributing to positive changes in awareness and assessment among U.S. functional agencies regarding Agent Orange/dioxin victims.
The journey for Agent Orange victims remains long, but with the collective efforts of the community, it is believed that more lives will continue to be supported and restored.