Human dignity. It’s an idea that starts in the human heart, and then spreads out, into the world, and into the law. We all have a sense of what human dignity is. We know when our dignity is respected, and when it isn’t. We know that the hurts we feel are injuries to our sense of dignity, our sense of self-worth, of the esteem in which others hold us. We know when we are treated “as a person,” and when we are treated as “less than human.” And we know that, because we have inherent human dignity, we have a right to have and claim our rights.

This course is about the rights we have simply because we are born human. And it’s about how the law is being reformed, right now, to reflect and promote human dignity. In fact, more and more, the recognition of human dignity is becoming the central value in our human rights system, and the heart of our commitment to a just rule of law. As you’ll see throughout this course, dignity is a real concept in law throughout the world, making a real difference in people’s lives.

Course outline

Here is an outline of the course structure, with its five units and focus areas, for you to have an overview of what to expect.

Dignity and Human Rights

• The first unit examines the sources of dignity in international human rights law and demonstrates how dignity is at the heart of the system of human rights protection.

Dignity and Democracy

• In this unit, we'll see how dignity is intimately tied to democracy and the rule of law. Dignity demands a democratic system of government that respects every person's equal worth, and democracy, in turn, is the only system that can protect human dignity.

Dignity and Criminal Law

• Human dignity is inviolable and inalienable, so even those who lose their liberty have dignity rights. In Unit Three, we see how the criminal law assures that all people are treated with dignity, no matter what.

Dignity and SECE Rights

• Unit Four explores the connections between dignity and social, economic, cultural, and environmental rights, and shows how global case law has developed to protect these rights in interconnected and indivisible ways.

Dignity and Equality

• We end the course by examining the relationship between dignity and equality, showing that, while these are two distinct values, neither is complete without the other.

Coordinators

This course is designed by internationally leading scholars on human dignity Erin Daly and Catherine Dupré (read bios here) and arises out of their research and teaching on human dignity.

Erin Daly and Catherine Dupré

Course Coordinators

Guest Speakers

The faculty includes three distinguished judges who have shaped dignity law and whose influence is indelible, along with and two eminent scholars on human rights (read bios here):

 

Susanne Baer

Former Justice, German Constitutional Court

Albie Sachs

Former Justice, Constitutional Court of South Africa

Veronica Gomez

Justice, Inter-American Court of Human Rights

Manfred Nowak

Global Campus of Human Rights

George Ulrich

Global Campus of Human Rights

F.A.Q.s

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Enrolment

How do I enrol in the course?

You can start the enrolment process by clicking the "enrol" button.

Is there a selection procedure to participate in the course?

No, we do not select participants on any basis. Rather, we welcome anyone who is interested in learning more about the topic to enrol and participate for free.

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Fees

I would like to know if the course is free or if some parts are to be paid

Our course is open and totally free for anyone. The certificate of participation is also free and offered to all those who successfully complete all course requirements

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Structure and content

Is there a schedule for the course or is it self-directed?

The course is self-paced and fully asynchronous, allowing participants to study at their own convenience. All units are released simultaneously and remain accessible at all times, supporting flexible completion based on each learner’s schedule.

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Certificate of completion

What do I need to do to get the certificate of participation?

At the end of the course, if you have successfully completed all quizzes, you will receive a certificate confirming your participation.