Speech by Dr. Pham Xuan Hung, Vice-President of Vietnam Association for Victims of Agent Orange/Dioxin

 Dear Presidium of the World Conference Against A&H Bombs,

Dear delegates of the Conference!

 I am deeply moved and honored to be invited to behalf of the victims of Agent Orange/Dioxin in Vietnam to attend the 2025 World Conference Against Atomic and Hydrogen Bombs. First of all, I would like to share the loss and pain of the victims’ families affected by nuclear weapons in Hiroshima and Nagasaki Disasters as well as the victims of nuclear tests around the world.

            Dear delegates of the Conference!

       There have been many discussions and detailed studies on the dangers of nuclear weapons. Each factor of a nuclear explosion creates terrible destruction, not only immediately but also with long-term effects. In Vietnam, we consider nuclear weapons to be the leading weapon in the group of Weapons of Mass Destruction - including: nuclear weapons, chemical weapons, biological weapons and radioactive weapons. Humanity around the world has also clearly understood this issue and has a legal corridor such as treaties: Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (CTBT), most recently the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) and a number of agreements signed between countries, regions and continents. We also have the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to control and develop the use of nuclear energy in the right direction; above is the United Nations Security Council.

          However, the above treaties are almost ineffective with some countries, we still see races in developing nuclear weapons; nuclear disarmament has not been very effective. War using weapons of mass destruction, especially nuclear weapons can happen at any time.

          I am very proud to be a citizen of a peace-loving country. Vietnam is a country that is always at the forefront of participating in international conventions on the prohibition of the development of mass destruction weapons, including nuclear weapons and of course Vietnam always strictly implements the signed provisions.

 As we know, 80 years ago (1945-2025), under the orders of President Harry S. Truman, the U.S Army Force dropped two atomic bombs in the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, turning these two beautiful cities into dead lands; tens of thousands people died immediately, tens of thousands people were injured, and continued to die from radiation poisoning; survivors suffered from many diseases, mental torment, and died slowly; the risk of continuing to give birth to children with deformities, disabilities, and a series of other serious social problems. Although Hiroshima and Nagasaki have been revived by the Japanese people, but consequences are still a horror, haunting not only for the Japanese people but also for the people all over the world.

 Attending to the conference today, as a representative of the Vietnam Association for Victims of Agent Orange/Dioxin, I would like to share that during the Vietnam war, the US­ military used 4 times more bombs than all countries used in World War II. After 50 years of the war (1975-2025), unexploded bombs and mines continue to cause casualties to Vietnamese people every day, especially farmers, people in poor mountainous areas and children.

 In this August, 64 years ago (1961-2025), the US military conducted the first toxic chemical spraying in Vietnam. In 10 years, from 10/8/1961 to 1971, the US military sprayed about 80 million liters of herbicides in Vietnam, of which 61% was Agent Orange, that containing about 366 kg of dioxin, the most toxic poison known by human.

 What I want to emphasize here is: The Agent Orange/Dioxin disaster used by the U.S Millitary in Vietnam has many similarities to the atomic bomb disaster dropped by the U.S in Japan. The most serious consequences for the ecological environment and human health: More than 3 million hectares of forest were destroyed, ecosystem was disrupted, environment was heavily polluted; 4.8 million people were exposed Agent Orange/dioxin, of which more than 3 million were victims of serious diseases, hundreds of thousands people died, the survivors struggled with the pain of illness, with no hope of cure. Especially, Agent Orange caused sequelae through many generations, descendants, tens of thousands children were born dead or sick, deformities, disabilities completely or partially paralyzed, and have now been passed down to the 4th generation.

 Dear delegates of the Conference!

 The question is, what should we do to have a peaceful world, a world without Weapons of Mass Destruction? I think that conferences like today are necessary for us to send the mission of peace-loving people, the desire for a safer and better world. The role of media is also very important, it is the media agencies, reporters who convey our wishes to the leaders of the countries. Another point is that we talk about the role of international arbitration agencies such as the International Atomic Energy Agency and the United Nations Security Council; we hope that these agencies need to promote their role better, stand on the side of peace-loving people to strive together for a peaceful world, without the danger of Mass Destruction Weapons.

 Realizing more clearly the consequences of atomic bombs and toxic chemicals, we once again, urgently call on governments and people of all countries, organizations and individuals around the world to unite and act against all forms of use of Mass Destruction Weapons, for a peaceful world, without nuclear weapons, without Agent Orange/dioxin, no more Hibakusha victims, no more Agent Orange/Dioxin victims and other victims of war!

 Thank you, delegates and entire Conference!