NEW YORK – The United Nations will celebrate the World Autism Awareness Day on Tuesday, which falls on April 2nd of each year. This year’s celebration comes under the theme “Moving from Surviving to Thriving: Perspectives on Regional Life and Experiences of Individuals with Autism”, aiming to bring a comprehensive global perspective on autism by uniquely focusing on the voices and experiences of individuals with autism themselves.
According to the United Nations Information Centre, the 2024 celebration and event aim to emphasise the importance of implementing Sustainable Development Goals for people with autism to achieve success. The event will feature speakers with autism representing 6 regions: Africa, Asia, the Pacific, Europe, Latin America, the Caribbean, North America, and Oceania.
The United Nations noted that since the General Assembly of the United Nations declared April 2nd as World Autism Awareness Day in 2007, the United Nations has been celebrating this day as a means to affirm, promote, and implement all human rights and fundamental freedoms for people with autism worldwide on equal and comprehensive bases with others. Significant progress has been made in this regard globally thanks to the efforts of many advocates and the sharing of experiences of individuals with autism.
The General Assembly resolution issued in 2007 emphasises the importance of raising public awareness about autism. After 17 years, the focus has shifted from mere awareness-raising to promoting the acceptance and appreciation of individuals with autism and their contributions to society.
The Global Communications of the United Nations organises and manages this event in close collaboration with the Neurodiversity Institute, a global comprehensive organisation founded and led by neurodivergent minorities, run by volunteers, and headquartered in Switzerland.
The organisation is currently present in 23 countries worldwide and is the largest and most globally representative and diverse initiative for neurodiversity. It aims to represent and empower neurodivergent minorities, promote acceptance, appreciation, education, and inclusion.
Discussion about this post