Central Committee of the Association Receives and Works with Ms. Tran To Nga

On July 16, 2026, Ms. Tran To Nga – a Vietnamese expatriate in France, Honorary Citizen of Villejuif (France), a victim of Agent Orange, and the plaintiff in the lawsuit against 14 American chemical companies that produced and supplied toxic chemicals to the US military for use in the Vietnam War – visited and worked with the Central Committee of the Vietnam Association for Victims of Agent Orange/Dioxin (VAVA).

Receiving and working with Ms. Tran To Nga were Lieutenant General Nguyen Huu Chinh, Member of the Presidium of the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front, President of VAVA; the Vice Presidents of the Association; and leaders of the International – Science Department, Propaganda Department, Emulation Department, Finance Department, and the Vietnam Agent Orange Magazine.

In a warm and friendly atmosphere, Lieutenant General Nguyen Huu Chinh and his associates warmly welcomed Ms. Nga on her journey back to homeland, expressing their appreciation for her persistent efforts in the struggle for justice, and wishing her good health, happiness, and hoped she would continue walking on her chosen path steadily.

During the meeting, Nga shared her journey of over 17 years pursuing the lawsuit against American chemical companies. In 2009, she officially filed a lawsuit against the companies that manufactured and supplied chemical weapons to the US military for use in the war in Vietnam. From April 2014 to 2020, the Evry Court (France) held 19 procedural hearings.

On May 10, 2021, following a hearing between Nga's lawyers and the legal representatives of 14 US chemical companies, the Evry High Court dismissed the lawsuit on the grounds that it lacked jurisdiction because the case involved actions of the US government. Unsatisfied with this ruling, Nga appealed to the French Court of Cassation.

On June 16, 2026, the French Court of Cassation opened a hearing to consider her appeal. After over two hours of hearing arguments from both sides, particularly the plaintiffs' view that applying jurisdictional immunity to private companies was inconsistent with international law, the Court decided to refer the case to the General Assembly of the Court of Cassation – the highest level of jurisdiction in the French Cassation system – instead of issuing an immediate ruling.

According to legal experts and international public observers, the General Assembly's decision to accept the case reflects the exceptional historical and legal significance of the lawsuit. This is also the first time that issues related to jurisdictional immunity and the liability of multinational corporations for environmental consequences caused by war have been considered at the highest level of the French Court of Cassation.

Listening to Nga's heartfelt sharing, Lieutenant General Nguyen Huu Chinh emotionally affirmed: "Her struggle for justice is not only the one for herself, but also for millions of Vietnamese victims of Agent Orange; it is a voice for conscience, for peace, so that the Agent Orange disaster will never be repeated for future generations. VAVA will always stand by, monitor, and support this just struggle to the best of its ability."

On this occasion, Lieutenant General Nguyen Huu Chinh presented Ms. Tran To Nga with a beautiful bouquet of flowers, expressing his affection and respect for her steadfastness in pursuing justice for such a long time.

 After more than a decade of persistent struggle, Ms. Tran To Nga's case is showing positive legal signs when the French Court of Cassation's transfers the case to the highest level of jurisdiction, openning up new hope for it and rekindling faith in millions of Vietnamese AO victims in their struggle for justice, righteousness and responsibility for the devastating consequences of chemical warfare.

Dinh Trong