Hanoi (VNA)- The Vietnam News Agency is calling on budding and professional writers alike to put pen to paper and write about issues related to Agent Orange victims in Vietnam .

Launching the writing campaign on June 16, the VNA hopes to raise support and public awareness about the plight of more than 3 million Agent Orange victims in the country.

The campaign, supported by VNA, “Tin Tuc” News daily and the Vincom joint-stock company, is expected to become a forum for all Vietnamese citizens at home or abroad and foreigners concerned about the issue to write stories and articles for traditional and online newspapers.

VNA General Director Nguyen Quoc Uy said the campaign aims to encourage all media to raise public awareness about the lasting effect of Agent Orange on tens of thousands of families for generations in Vietnam .

“Public Voice: Hearts and Justice”, also aims to contribute to the victims’ struggle for justice through a lawsuit against US chemical companies now happening in the US , he added.

The best stories will be published in VNA publications and later printed in English- and Vietnamese-language books for circulation both at home and abroad to raise public support for the victims before a trial against the US chemical companies is held in the US high court.

Major topics for stories will include a focus on the suffering of A/O victims of all generations, examples set by victims in overcoming difficulties and integrating into the community, and the generosity and kind-heartedness of compatriots and international friends in alleviating the plight of the unlucky victims.

Writers and journalists are also encouraged to spotlight public support for the victims’ struggle for justice in the suit against US chemical companies to US courts as well as public criticism against US chemical companies for their indifference and lack of will in addressing and solving the consequences left behind in Vietnam by US pilots’ spraying Agent Orange during the war.

Stories should not be longer than 1,500 words and not yet been published. They should be sent to Tin Tuc Daily at 33 Le Thanh Tong street by post or by email at tintucdacam@gmail.com or tintucdacam@yahoo.com before September 15.

VNA is among major donors to A/O victims. It has set up a fund in support of the victims, raising over 1.6 billion VND, 20 wheel-chairs and a number of tonic medicines.

Most recently on June 15, General Secretary Nguyen Manh Hung of the Lotus Association, an overseas Vietnamese group in Belgium, handed over 900 Euros to the VNA bureau chief in Belgium as donations to the VNA fund for A/O victims.

The sum of money was raised from a charity event, which drew a crowd of overseas Vietnamese and members of the “Friends of Vietnam in Belgium ” organisation, in addition to staff members of the Vietnamese embassy, VNA bureau and Vietnamese commercial agency in the European country.