Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam has issued a call to action at the third Vietnam Association for Victims of Agent Orange/dioxin (VAVA) conference in Hanoi on December 24, urging the organization to step up its struggles for justice. Deputy PM Dam spoke to an audience including former Vice President and VAVA Honorary President Nguyen Thi Binh, officials from a range of international organizations, and more than 300 delegates representing in excess of 300,000 AO/Dioxin victims. The new 2013–2018 VAVA term extends its dual mission to assist and support AO/Dioxin victims and to fight for justice on their behalf. The more than 300,000 VAVA members are distributed over group chapters in 59 Vietnamese cities and provinces. It has raised nearly VND650 billion from foreign and domestic sources to fund housing projects for victims, rehabilitation centre construction, employment generation, and disaster relief. Deputy PM Dam applauded the association’s decade of achievement and commended its members on embracing their social responsibility with their tireless efforts on behalf of AO victims. The Party and State always acknowledges Vietnamese war victims and stands side by side with them in the struggle for justice, Dam noted. Senior Lieutenant General Nguyen Van Rinh was re-elected VAVA Chairman for the 2013-2018 term. (vov.vn Dec 24)
