Dr. Andrea Broderick, of Maastricht University, The Netherlands, and Dr. Delia Ferri, of the National University of Ireland, Maynooth, have co-authored the first textbook on International and European Disability Law and Policy: Text, Cases and Materials, which was published by Cambridge University Press in October 2019.

The textbook is the product of a close collaboration between the authors, and aims to serve as a valuable tool that can be used to improve the understanding of the rights of persons with disabilities, as well as the challenges associated with the practical implementation of those rights. It  provides a comprehensive overview of the international legal and policy framework on disability, including regional systems for the protection of disability rights. By including chapters on the European Union (EU) and the Council of Europe (CoE), the Inter-American and the African systems, as well as on the protection of the rights of people with disabilities in Asia, the textbook aims to achieve a global focus. This is strengthened by the addition of case studies and examples of good practice from a large number of different countries around the world.

The textbook is divided into three main parts, preceded by an introductory chapter that lays down the methodology and pedagogical approach of the book. The first part of the book examines the development of international standards on disability, focusing on the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD or the UN Convention). The second part of the book analyses EU disability law and policy, paying attention to the role of the Court of Justice of the EU (CJEU) in protecting the rights of EU citizens with disabilities, and critically assessing the status and effects of the CRPD in the EU legal order. The third part of the textbook covers the role of regional systems, such as the CoE, and the Inter-American and African human rights systems, as well as other transnational regimes, in protecting and promoting the rights of people with disabilities.

The textbook addresses a diverse readership. It aims to be usable by students at different levels, while maintaining academic rigour. In addition, the textbook maintains a balance between theory and practice. This combination makes the textbook suitable for purely legal programmes as well as interdisciplinary courses in disability studies. Notably, the textbook includes special pedagogical features, flow charts and diagrams, as well as summaries and activities, to facilitate students’ learning.

Apart from its primary objective, namely to inform the studies of university students, the textbook is also intended to serve as a comprehensive guide to the field of international and European disability law and policy for practitioners, policy-makers and non-governmental actors.

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