World Autism Awareness Day
On December 18, 2007, the United Nations General Assembly declared April 2 as World Autism Awareness Day. The resolution entered into force in 2008 and since then this day has been observed every year around the world.
The first World Autism Awareness Day was celebrated on April 2, 2008, and the then Secretary-General of the United Nations, Ban Ki-moon, made the following statement:
“On this day, the United Nations reaffirms its commitment to the rights and well-being of persons with disabilities, a commitment rooted in our core principle of universal human rights for all. It is particularly appropriate that this inaugural day falls in 2008 , the year in which we celebrate the sixtieth anniversary of the United Nations Declaration on Human Rights and in which we expect the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, approved by the General Assembly in 2006, to enter into force.”
The 2023 celebration focused on the contribution of autistic people in the home, work, arts and policy-making, with the slogan:
The General Assembly approved this resolution recalling what is established in the Final Document of the 2005 World Summit and the Millennium Declaration, as well as the results of important United Nations conferences and summits in the economic sphere, social and other related spheres. Also remembering the Convention on the Rights of the Child and the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, under which children with disabilities must enjoy a full and dignified life, in conditions that ensure their dignity, promote the their autonomy and facilitate their active participation in the community, as well as their full enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms on equal terms with other children.
The declaration is born out of a deep concern at the prevalence and high incidence of autism in childhood in all regions of the world and the consequent development challenges that this increase and prevalence pose for health care programs, education, training and intervention undertaken by governments, non-governmental organizations and the private sector, as well as its dire impact on children and their families, communities and societies.
Also remembering that early diagnosis, research and intervention are vital for the growth and development of the person.
The declaration invites all Member States, relevant organizations of the United Nations system and other international organizations, as well as civil society, including non-governmental organizations and the private sector, to duly observe the World Day of Awareness on the ‘Autism with the intention of increasing public awareness of this disorder. Encouraging member states to adopt measures to raise awareness throughout society, even at the family level, about the situation of children with autism.
(Text adapted from the Resolution approved by the General Assembly on December 18, 2007. 62/139. World Autism Awareness Day)
World Autism Awareness Day at our organization
In line with the objectives and recommendations of this resolution, every April 2, international organizations and civil society around the world carry out different actions to spread and raise awareness about Autism Spectrum Disorder or Autism.
From our organization we also wanted to contribute to these objectives by carrying out different dissemination campaigns every year and participating in official events that contribute to them.
One of the campaigns with the greatest impact was the one in 2018 “Jo us veig” (I see you), where we wanted to refer to the invisibility of people with autism in society. The campaign had the participation of well-known personalities from the fields of journalism, sports, music, the arts and politics.
Since then “Jo us veig” has become the slogan of Fundació Junts Autisme and to this day we continue to use it to represent and identify our organization. It is the “Call to Action” of our communication materials, social networks, projects, etc.
