Human dignity according to international instruments on human rights

• Main Author: José Pablo Alzina de Aguilar
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Asociación Española de Profesores de Derecho Internacional y Relaciones Internacionales (AEPDIRI) 2011-01-01
• Series: Revista Electrónica de Estudios Internacionales
• Subjects: human dignity; legal personhood; human rights; international instruments on human rights; world community; dignidad humana; personalidad jurídica; derechos humanos; instrumentos internacionales sobre derechos humanos; comunidad mundial
• Online Access: http://www.reei.org/index.php/revista/num22/notas/human-dignity-according-to-international-instruments-on-human-rights

According to international instruments on human rights, the dignity of the human person is the foundation of human rights, and both human dignity and human rights are inherent to the human being, universal and inviolable. This understanding of human dignity is not a fruitless truism, but the solid foundation on which to build a world community under the rule of the new ius gentium: the International Law for Humankind. Moreover, it is the clue to answer many questions raised by the new world of globalization and of the exponential growth of international rules.Consequently, there is a need to a common doctrine on a notion of human dignity which will allow the implementation and adjudication of the aforementioned instruments, at the service of the human person and in conformity with the juridical conscience which they reflect. Philosophy of Law concepts which can be traced back to Aristotle provide that notion. According to these concepts, the demanding nature of “human dignity” sustains the notion of “legal personhood”, and both notions pertain to the realm of Law and Right, not of Morale and Values. Thus, human dignity and human rights are and must be, respectively, a basic principle and a necessary part of any Law system, including international law