Around 20% of society has some form of disability and this has wide impacts on the way a person leads their life, often in ways that are not commonly thought of.

In this episode, Markus Schefer, Professor of Constitutional and Administrative Law at the University of Basel and a member of the UN Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, talks about how legal frameworks, advocacy, and public awareness can work together to help ensure the respect of human rights for persons with disabilities.

We dive into the state of disability rights in Switzerland, the everyday barriers that may limit people’s autonomy, and why progress often requires persistent pressure from civil society. We also learn about the work of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and understand how legal tools can help shape national and international human rights initiatives.