Human Dignity

Human dignity is now a central feature of many modern constitutions and international documents. As a constitutional value human dignity involves a person''s free will autonomy and ability to write a life story within the framework of society. As a constitutional right it gives full expression to the value of human dignity subject to the specific demands of constitutional architecture. This analytical study of human dignity as both a constitutional value and a constitutional right adopts a legal-interpretive perspective. It explores the sources of human dignity as a legal concept its role in constitutional documents its content and its scope. The analysis is augmented by examples from comparative legal experience including chapters devoted to the role of human dignity in American Canadian German South African and Israeli constitutional law.