World celebrates diversity on World Autism Day

CAIRO – 2 April 2019: “On World Autism Awareness Day, we speak out against discrimination, celebrate the diversity of our global community and strengthen our commitment to the full inclusion and participation of people with autism,” United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres said Monday.

He added that supporting those diagnosed with autism to achieve their full potential is considered to be a vital part of the UN efforts to uphold the core promise of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development: “to leave no one behind”.

Guterres added in his message that this year’s observance underscores the importance of affordable assistive technologies to support people with autism to live independent lives and to exercise their basic human rights. Around the world, there are still major barriers to accessing such technologies, including high costs, unavailability and a lack of awareness of their potential.

Most countries around the world show solidarity through lighting the historical sites in blue, raising awareness about autism around the world.

Chairman of Suez Canal Authority (SCA) Mohab Mamish announced Monday that Egypt will light a number of its historical places in blue on Monday and Tuesday.

Egypt has lighted its monuments and important locations in blue in honor of the World Autism Awareness Day for five years. Among the locations to be lighted in blue the Giza Pyramids, Cairo Tower, the Cairo Opera House and the Temple of Luxor.


FILE - Egyptian sites lights in blue in 2017's World Autism Day - Egypt Today


FILE - Egyptian sites lights in blue in 2017's World Autism Day - Egypt Today