"autistic people should die". Searching for the phrase."aspies are" on Yahoo leads to the
autocomplete and related searches suggestion "aspies are evil".
Autistic children using search engines and social media grow up with the knowledge that
they are disliked. Hate speech produced by search engine algorithms reinforces the
negative public perception of the autistic minority and perpetually incites violence against
autistic persons in real life.
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 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 (CoNG0), 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.