AUTISTIC MINORITY INTERNATIONAL W W W . A U T I S T I C M I N O R I T Y . O R G Action must be taken to ensure that autistic persons are not disadvantaged in interactions with police and court proceedings and that we are not treated unfairly or more harshly because of prevailing prejudice. Thank you. Erich Kofmel, President Autistic Minority International Background information Our NGO, Autistic Minority International, headquartered in Geneva, is the first and only autism self-advocacy organization – run by and for autistic persons – active at the global political level. Autistic Minority International is an associate member of the Conference of NGOs in Consultative Relationship with the United Nations (CoNGO), a member of the NGO Forum for Health, a Geneva-based consortium of organizations committed to promoting human rights and quality care in global health, and a member of UNICEF's Global Partnership on Children with Disabilities (GPcwd) and its Task Force on Child Protection. In 2007, the United Nations General Assembly declared 2 April World Autism Awareness Day. On that day in 2013, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon wrote: "This international attention is essential to address stigma, lack of awareness and inadequate support structures. Now is the time to work for a more inclusive society, highlight the talents of affected people and ensure opportunities for them to realize their potential." In 2012, the United Nations General Assembly unanimously adopted resolution 67/82 "Addressing the socioeconomic needs of individuals, families and societies affected by autism spectrum disorders, developmental disorders and associated disabilities". In this resolution, the UN member states recognize "that the full enjoyment by persons with autism spectrum disorders [...] of their human rights and their full participation will result in significant advances in the social and economic development of societies and communities" and stress "the important contribution that non-governmental organizations and other civil society actors can make in promoting human rights for [...] all individuals with autism spectrum disorders [...] and their integration in societies". The GA voices its concern "that persons with autism spectrum disorders [...] continue to face barriers in their participation as equal members of society" and calls this "discrimination" and "a violation of the inherent dignity and worth of the human person". Autistic Minority International welcomes contact from and is open to collaboration with UN member states, the UN system, the wider NGO community, autism charities run by non-autistics, researchers particularly in the social sciences and international law, the private sector, and individuals. We look forward to interacting with participants in the forum as well as other minority rights stakeholders in the near future. 2