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UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Saturday stressed "equal participation and active involvement" of those with autism, saying it is "essential for achieving the inclusive societies."
In his message to mark World Autism Awareness Day, Ban said autism is a lifelong condition that affects millions of people worldwide.
"It (autism) is not well-understood in many countries, and too many societies shun people with autism," he said, adding "This is a violation of human rights and a waste of human potential."
While people with autism naturally have a wide range of abilities and different areas of interest, he said, they all share the capacity for making our world a better place.
Underlining that the transition to adulthood by persons with autism is especially sensitive, Ban called for "societies to invest more funds in enabling young persons with autism to be part of their generation's historic push for progress."
The UN chief also called for advancing the rights of individuals with autism and ensuring their full participation and inclusion as valued members of our diverse human family who can contribute to a future of dignity and opportunity for all.
On Friday, the UN General Assembly held a special event called "Autism and the 2030 Agenda: Inclusion and Neurodiversity." This year also marks the 10th anniversary of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
