Description

The deployment of massive quantities of chemical herbicides (e.g. Agent Orange) during the Vietnam War has been affecting the health and livelihoods of people in Vietnam for decades. After years of inaction and denial of responsibility, US-funded environmental remediation and health projects are currently implemented in ‘hot spots’ on the basis of bilateral cooperation with the Vietnamese government. In this seminar, I situate this recent development within debates on the protection of the environment during armed conflict. I will first recall the efforts, pursued at the national and international levels, to establish accountability for environmental warfare in Vietnam. I then analyze the legal nature of ongoing environmental and disability projects funded by the American Congress, which I term ‘voluntary remediation initiatives’, and the broader implications of the US government’s response to dioxin contamination in Vietnam. In particular, I argue that whereas a pragmatic approach to post-conflict environmental remediation may offer some advantages, voluntary remediation initiatives have drawbacks that should not be overlooked.

About The Speaker

Eliana Cusato is a Ph.D. candidate in the Faculty of Law at the National University of Singapore (NUS). Eliana holds a Bachelor’s Degree and Master’s Degree in Law from the Catholic University (Milan). Eliana’s doctoral dissertation focuses on environmental degradation and natural resource depletion, and how these phenomena relate to violence and armed conflict. Her work has been published in academic journals (e.g. Journal of International Criminal Justice, International Community Law Review) and presented at international conferences. Eliana is also qualified to practice in Italy. Prior to entering academia, she worked as a criminal lawyer in Milan, specializing in white collar and environmental crimes. She also served at the International Criminal Court, in the Office of the Public Counsel for the Defence.