As stated on the Autism Speaks website on May 23, 2014:
"Today the World Health Assembly adopted a formal resolution making autism a global health priority. The assembly is the governing body of the World Health Organization (WHO). As such, the resolution brings a formal commitment by member states of the United Nations."
133rd session
EB133.R1
Agenda item 6.1 30 May
2013
The Executive Board,
Having considered the
report on the comprehensive and coordinated efforts for the management of autism spectrum disorders, 1
RECOMMENDS to the
Sixty-seventh World Health Assembly the adoption of the following
resolution:
The Sixty-seventh
World Health Assembly,
Recalling the
Universal Declaration of Human Rights 1948; the Convention on the Rights of the Child 1989; the
Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities 2007; United Nations General
Assembly resolution 62/139 declaring 2 April as World Autism Awareness Day; and United Nations
General Assembly resolution 67/82 on addressing the socioeconomic needs of individuals,
families and societies affected by autism spectrum disorders,developmental
disorders and associated disabilities;
Further recalling, as
appropriate, resolution WHA65.4 on the global burden of mental disorders and the need
for a comprehensive, coordinated response from health and social sectors at the
country level and resolution WHA66.9 on disability; resolution SEA/RC65/R7
adopted bythe Regional Committee for South-East Asia on comprehensive and
coordinated efforts for themanagement of Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASDs) and
developmental disabilities; resolutionEUR/RC61/R5 adopted by the Regional
Committee for Europe on the WHO European Declaration and Action Plan on the
Health of Children and Young People with Intellectual Disabilities and their
Families; resolution EM/RC57/R.3 adopted by the Regional Committee for the
Eastern Mediterranean on maternal, child and adolescent mental health:
challenges and strategic directions 2010–2015 all of which emphasize a strong response
to the needs of persons with developmental disorders including autism spectrum
disorders and other developmental disorders;
Reiterating
commitments to safeguard citizens from discrimination and social exclusion on the grounds of disability irrespective of the underlying impairment whether physical, mental, intellectual or
sensory according to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, and promoting all
persons’ basic necessities of life, education, healthcare and social security; and attention to
vulnerable persons;
1 Document
EB133/4.
Noting that globally,
an increasing number of children are being diagnosed with autism spectrum
disorders and other developmental disorders and that it is likely that still
more remain unidentified or incorrectly identified in society and in health
facilities;
Highlighting that
there is no valid scientific evidence that childhood vaccination leads to autism
spectrum disorders;
Understanding that
autism spectrum disorders are life-long developmental disorders and are marked
by the presence of markedly abnormal or impaired development in social
interaction and communication and a markedly restricted repertoire of activity
and interest; manifestations of the disorder vary greatly depending on the
developmental level and chronological age of the individual;
Further noting that
persons with autism spectrum disorders continue to face barriers in their
participation as equal members of the society, and reaffirming that
discrimination against any person on the basis of disability is inconsistent
with human dignity;
Deeply concerned about
the rising number of identified individuals with autism spectrum disorders and
other developmental disorders and that individuals with autism spectrum
disorders and their families face major challenges including social stigma,
isolation and discrimination, and children and families in need, especially in
low resource contexts, often have poor access to appropriate supports and
services;
Acknowledging the
comprehensive mental health action plan 2013–2020 and, as appropriate, the
policy measures that are recommended in resolution WHA66.9 on disability, which
can be particularly instrumental for developing countries in the scaling up of
care for autism spectrum disorders and other developmental disorders;
Recognizing the need
to create or strengthen, as appropriate, health systems that support all persons
with disabilities, mental health and developmental disorders, without
discrimination;
1.
URGES Member States:
(1) to give
appropriate recognition to the special needs of the individuals affected by autism
spectrum disorders and other developmental disorders in policies and programmes
related to early childhood and adolescent development, as part of a
comprehensive approach to address child and adolescent mental health and
developmental disorders;
(2) to develop or
update, and implement relevant policies, legislation, and multisectoral plans
as appropriate, in line with resolution WHA65.4, supported by sufficient human,
financial and technical resources to address issues related to autism spectrum
disorders and other developmental disorders; as part of a comprehensive approach
to supporting all persons living with mental health issues or disabilities;
(3) to support
research and public awareness raising and stigma removal campaigns consistent
with the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities;
(4) to increase the
capacity of health and social care systems, as appropriate, to provide services
for individuals and families with autism spectrum disorders and other developmental
disorders;
(5) to mainstream into
primary health care services the promotion and monitoring of child and
adolescent development in order to ensure timely detection and management ofautism
spectrum disorders and other developmental disorders according to national circumstances;
(6) to shift
systematically the focus of care away from long-stay health facilities towards
community-based, non-residential services;
(7) to strengthen
different levels of infrastructure for comprehensive management ofautism
spectrum disorders and other developmental disorders, as appropriate, including
care, education, support, intervention, services and rehabilitation;
(8) to promote sharing
of best practices and knowledge about autism spectrum disorders and other
developmental disorders;
(9) to promote sharing
of technology to assist developing countries in the diagnosis and treatment of
autism spectrum disorders and other developmental disorders;
(10) to provide social
and psychological support and care to families affected by autism spectrum
disorders and to include persons with autism spectrum disorders and developmental
disorders and their families within disability benefit schemes where available
and as appropriate;
(11) to recognize the
contribution of adults living with autism spectrum disorders in the workforce,
continuing to support workforce participation in partnership with the private sector;
(12) to identify and
address disparities in access to services for persons with autism spectrum
disorders and other developmental disorders;
(13) to improve health
information and surveillance systems that capture data on autism spectrum
disorders and other developmental disorders, conducting national level needs assessment
as part of the process;
(14) to promote
context-specific research on the public health and service delivery aspects of
autism spectrum disorders and other developmental disorders; strengthening international
research collaboration to identify causes and treatments;
2. REQUESTS the Director General:
(1) to collaborate
with Member States and partner agencies in order to provide support and to
strengthen national capacities to address autism spectrum disorders and other developmental
disorders, as part of a well-balanced approach, which strengthens systems, to
addressing mental health and disability, and in line with existing, related
action plansand initiatives;
(2) to engage with
autism-related networks, and other regional initiatives, as appropriate,
supporting networking with other international stakeholders for autism spectrum
disorders and other developmental disorders;
3) to work with Member
States, facilitating resource mobilization in different regions and
particularly in resource-poor countries, in line with the approved programme
budget, which addresses autism spectrum disorders and other developmental
disorders;
(4) to implement
resolution WHA66.8 on the comprehensive mental health action plan 2013–2020, as
well as resolution WHA66.9 on disability, in order to scale up care for individuals
with autism spectrum disorders and other developmental disorders, asapplicable,
and as an integrated component of the scale-up of care for all mental health needs;
(5) to monitor the
global situation of autism spectrum disorders and other developmental
disorders, evaluating the progress made in different initiatives and programmes
in collaboration with international partners as part of the existing monitoring
efforts embedded in related action plans and initiatives;
(6) to report on
progress made with regard to autism spectrum disorders, in a manner that is
synchronized with the reporting cycle on the comprehensive mental health action
plan 2013–2020, to the Sixty-eighth, Seventy-first and Seventy-fourth World
HealthAssemblies.
(Third
meeting, 30 May 2013)
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