The 57th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council (HRC) was convened at the United Nations Office at Geneva in Switzerland from September 9 to October 11, 2024. During the session, the Beijing Guangming Charity Foundation, together with relevant social organizations, held the World Autism Philanthropy Forum at the Palais des Nations. Focusing on the topics of “Autism Challenges and Opportunities from a Global Perspective” and “Integration of the Disabled and Able-bodied in Autism Care”, the forum brought together both Chinese and foreign professionals to exchange views on raising global awareness of autism.
At the forum, the speaker from the Beijing Guangming Charity Foundation delivered a speech titled “Joining Hands to Light up the Hope of Autistic Community”, calling for the world’s attention to the community and advocating for a shared bright future involving both the disabled and non-disabled. The speech highlighted the “Star Project” Assistance for Autism Community initiated by the foundation, which has been committed to supporting autistic families since its launch ten years ago. In the next five years, the foundation plans to cultivate 100,000 autistic brain rehabilitation trainers through public welfare programs, thus providing strength and hope for self-healing to the autism community.
Guo Hongbo, President of Beijing Innate Knowing Public Welfare Foundation and Director of Tianjin Normal University’s Jingu College, delivered a speech titled “Yangming’s Mindology in Excellent Traditional Chinese Culture Helps Women Improve Their Mental Power”
Dr. Ellen Qiongzhao Schicktanz, Vice President of Rodin International Artists Foundation, delivered a speech titled “Calling on Artists Around the World to Care for Children with Autism and Let Colors Heal Children’s Hearts and Growth”
Mihoubi Ayyoub, Founder of Algeria IBRRA Autism Institute, shared insights on “Empowerment Promise of Autism”
Prof. Angelo Molino, Founder and Honorary Chairman of the International Music & Wellness Council in Italy, delivers a video speech on how music therapy improves the lives of people with autism”
The guests shared that people with autism, a disease affecting tens of millions of families worldwide, should enjoy equal rights and dignity as everyone else, and society should eliminate prejudice and discrimination against them. They also called for governments, social organizations and research institutions of all countries to work together to raise awareness of autism by creating a sound international environment for the autism community based on mutual respect, equality, and shared benefit. This will also facilitate the exchange of best global practices in connecting the autism and non-autism communities.
At the forum, the World Autism Philanthropy Forum Consensus and Action Blueprint was released, featuring consensus on protecting the autistic community’s rights and interests, raising public awareness, and winning government support. It also covers detailed actions on knowledge sharing, capacity building, international cooperation, and public advocacy. In addition, the forum unveiled the second “Angel’s Love” Disabled and Healthy Integration International Youth Paintings Album, which demonstrates autistic children’s colorful world and their infinite potential through art. The forum injected new impetus into autism philanthropy while increasing global attention to and awareness of the disease.
Besides, the Beijing NGO Association for International Exchanges (Beijing NGO) addressed the HRC via video link, calling for more experience exchanges to jointly promote international non-governmental cooperation in poverty reduction. It also urged for efforts to address such issues as employment, education, social security, medical care, housing, elderly care, food safety and production safety, thereby delivering on the UN’s Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Since the beginning of 2024, over 10 social organizations in Beijing, including the Beijing Guangming Charity Foundation, Beijing NGO, Beijing Global Talent Exchange Association, Beijing Crafts Council and Zhongguancun Green Mine Industry Alliance, have attended the 55th, 56th and 57th sessions of the HRC. Through both on-site parallel events and video speeches, they have promoted achievements and propositions in Beijing’s human rights development from various aspects, contributing Beijing’s strength to global human rights progress.
(Edited based on information from Beijing Guangming Charity Foundation and others)
