Human dignity is the essence of what makes us human. Human dignity recognizes and reflects the equal worth of each and every member of the human family, regardless of gender, race, social or political status, talents, merit, or any other differentiator. It is an idea that has been around for millennia, but only in the last few decades has it come to be recognized as a legal right that can be claimed in court.

Today, the concept is recognized in most of the world’s constitutions, and these days, few constitutions are adopted or meaningfully amended without adding a reference to human dignity as a fundamental value or an actionable right, or both. Increasingly, courts around the globe are recognizing the right to dignity and applying it against governments and others to ensure that the dignity of all is respected. In the aggregate, dignity law ensures that every person is entitled to the same respect under the law.

In thousands of cases from all parts of the world, courts have shaped the meaning of human dignity and given it content and form. They have made it relevant to people from all cultures and societies seeking to protect their identity, their way of life, or their own integrity.

This unique casebook provides an introduction to this emergent and dynamic area of law, showing how the value of human dignity permeates all legal areas and how the right to have one’s dignity respected is shaping the development of law. Cases, constitutional provisions, and secondary materials illustrate the diversity and scope of this discipline, providing the first-ever practical yet theoretically grounded survey of this important legal innovation.