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World Autism Awareness Day

02 April 2023
UNICEF helps develop tools and introduces training programmes for health practitioners to detect autism in their communities.
Caption: UNICEF helps develop tools and introduces training programmes for health practitioners to detect autism in their communities.
Photo: © UNICEF

UN Secretary General António Guterres released a message on the on World Autism Awareness Day. It reads as follows:

"On World Autism Awareness Day, we celebrate the contributions of persons with autism and renew our resolve to advance their inherent rights.

Despite important progress, persons with autism continue to face social and environmental barriers to the full exercise of their rights and fundamental freedoms, in line with the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

We must do better – by promoting inclusive education, equal employment opportunities, self-determination, and an environment where every person is respected. And as we do so, we also recognize the role of families, caregivers, and support networks in the lives of persons with autism.

Today and every day, let us fully recognize the active and diverse contributions of persons with autism to our societies – and let us work together."

UN entities involved in this initiative

UN
United Nations

Goals we are supporting through this initiative