You have heard the term “human dignity” a lot
these days. Human dignity is at the heart of human rights. What is human
dignity exactly? What’s the history of this concept and why does it matter? We
will discuss the history of the term, its meaning, and its place in both a
human rights framework and a religious framework.
What is human
dignity?
At its most basic, the concept of human dignity is the belief that all
people hold a special value that is tied solely to their humanity. It has
nothing to do with their class, race, gender, religion, abilities, or any other
factor other than them being human.
The term “dignity” has evolved over the years. Originally, the Latin,
English, and French words for “dignity” did not have anything to do with a
person’s inherent value. It aligned much closer with someone’s “merit.” If
someone was “dignified,” it meant they had a very high status. They belonged to
the royalty or, at the very least, those who had money. The phrase as we
understand it today was not recognized until 1948.
Human dignity: the
human rights framework.
The original meaning of the word “dignity” established that someone
deserved respect because of their status. In the Universal Declaration of Human
Rights, that concept was turned on its head. Article 1 states: “All human beings
are born free and equal in dignity and rights.” Suddenly,
dignity was not something that people earned because of their class, race, or
another advantage. It is something all humans are born with. Simply by being
human, all people deserve respect. Human rights naturally spring from that
dignity.
The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, adopted
in 1966, continued this understanding. The preamble reads that “…these rights
derive from the inherent dignity of the human person.” This belief goes hand in
hand with the universality of human rights. In the past, only people made
dignified by their status were given respect and rights. By redefining dignity
as something inherent to everyone, it also establishes universal rights.
Human dignity: the
religious framework.
The concept of human dignity is not limited to human rights. In fact,
for centuries, religions around the world have recognized a form of human
dignity as we now understand it. Most, if not all, religions teach that humans
are essentially equal for one reason or another. In most religions, it is
because humans were created in the image of God, becoming children of God.
Dignity is something that a divine being gives to people. In religious social
teaching, the phrase “Human Dignity” is used specifically to support the belief
that every human life is sacred.
When everyone is equal, they are all equally deserving of basic respect
and rights, at least in theory. Regrettably, countless people have had their
dignity disrespected over the years by religious institutions and others using
religion as the justification.
Why recognizing
human dignity is so important?
Why is human dignity so important when it comes to human rights? Human
dignity justifies human rights. When people are divided and given a value based
on characteristics like class, gender, religion, and so on, it creates unequal
societies where discrimination runs rampant. People assigned a higher value get
preferential treatment. Anyone who does not fit into the privileged category is
abandoned or oppressed. We have seen what happens in places where human dignity
is not seen as inherent and human rights are not universal. While the
privileged few in these societies flourish, society as a whole suffers
significantly. Inevitably, violence erupts. If a new group takes power and also
fails to recognize human dignity, the cycle of destruction continues, only with
different participants.
Recognizing human dignity and the universality of human rights is not
just so individuals can be protected and respected. It is for the good of the
entire world. If everyone’s rights were respected and everyone got equal
opportunities to thrive, the world would be a much happier, more peaceful
place.
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