UNITED NATIONS, April 2 (Xinhua) -- The rights of persons with autism must be taken into account in efforts to address the COVID-19 pandemic - "a public health crisis unlike any other in our lifetimes," United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said in his message for the World Autism Awareness Day, which is observed annually on April 2.

"We must ensure that a long disruption caused by the COVID19 crisis does not result in rollbacks of the rights they have worked so hard to advance," Guterres said.

This year's commemoration is being held as countries grapple with the pandemic, which is placing persons with autism "at disproportionate risk of the new coronavirus and its impacts," the secretary-general noted.

"Persons with autism have the right to self-determination, independence and autonomy, as well as the right to education and employment on an equal basis with others. But the breakdown of vital support systems and networks as a result of COVID-19 exacerbates the obstacles that persons with autism face in exercising these rights," the UN chief noted.

"We must ensure that a prolonged disruption caused by the emergency does not result in rollbacks of the rights that persons with autism and their representative organizations have worked so hard to advance."

Autism refers to a range of conditions characterized by some degree of impaired social behavior, communication and language, which begin in childhood, usually during the first five years of life, according to the World Health Organization.

World Autism Awareness Day is an internationally recognized day on April 2 every year, encouraging UN member states to take measures to raise awareness about people with autistic spectrum disorders including autism and Asperger syndrome throughout the world.