Excellencies,
Distinguish delegates,
Ladies and gentlemen,
As highlighted in this commemoration of the World Autism Awareness Day, inclusive quality education provides an unprecedented opportunity to advance the inclusion of persons with autism in all spheres of society.
On behalf of DESA, co-organizer of the World Autism Awareness Day, I express my appreciation to the contributions from all participants to today’s event.
One key message from the discussion today is that the access to inclusive quality education is critical to the realization of the rights of persons with autism, in alignment with the goals and objectives of the 2030 development agenda and its sustainable development goals. This is also consistent with the 缅北禁地Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, which emphasizes the importance of inclusive education, calling for the States parties to ensure access to inclusive, quality and free education and to provide reasonable accommodations in schools.
Since 2019, the United Nations Disability Inclusion Strategy has been advancing the disability inclusion in the global agenda, including in the UN’s work in promoting inclusive quality education for persons with autism in line with the Convention and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
Despite such progress, persons with autism still face many challenges. These include isolation and discrimination, which negatively impacts on education, and ultimately on employment and income as well as their overall well-being.
The COVID-19 pandemic created additional challenges and has adversely affected the lives of those with autism, including in their education. The services they need at school have often been interrupted and, in some cases, discontinued, creating a vacuum in the education.
Numerous barriers to access to education still remain. These include discriminatory laws, lack of accessibility in schools, lack of teaching methods inclusive of all, unaffordable education, and lack of awareness among teachers and school staff of the potential of inclusive education.
The international community and its stakeholders must therefore galvanize their forces to dismantle persistent barriers in education. Enabling the access to quality education would require the participation of many different stakeholders, including governments and civil society and in particular persons with disabilities and their representative organizations. The Department of Economic and Social Affairs also stands ready to work with you to achieve the goal of quality education for all—including those with autism.
Today’s commemoration has raised the awareness about the need and importance of quality education for those with autism as an essential condition for creating an inclusive, accessible and sustainable world. Let us take action to achieve this goal.
I thank you.