Publicaties

Human Dignity: Beyond Suspicion?On the Meaning of Human Dignity for Contemporary EthicsDavid G. KirchhofferSUMMARYThe widespread use of human dignity in human rights documen ts andnational constitutions has a downside, namely, the rise of #dignitytalk#: one finds human dignity being used by opposing sides of anethical debate to justify contradictory moral behaviours, as if anappeal t o human dignity makes an argument unassailable. E.g., ...

This article explores the meaning and status of human dignity in a post-conflict context through, primarily albeit not exclusively, an examination of Kosovo's experience. The content and contours of the 2008 Kosovo Constitution were most naturally shaped by its past, formed by a state of conflict and further non-consensual bloody dissolution of the remainder of the former Yugoslav federation, superseded by an interim UN-led territorial ...

Germline genome editing is often disapproved of at the international policy level because of its possible threats to human dignity. However, from a critical perspective the relationship between this emerging technology and human dignity is relatively understudied. We explore the main principles that are referred to when 'human dignity' is invoked in this context; namely, the link with eugenics, the idea of a common genetic heritage, the ...

Human dignity has long been used as a foundational principle in policy documents and ethical guidelines intended to govern various forms of biomedical research. Despite the vast amount of literature concerning human dignity and embryonic tissues, the majority of biomedical research uses non-embryonic human tissue. Therefore, this contribution addresses a notable lacuna in the literature: the relationship, if any, between human dignity and human ...

The legal status of unborn human life is difficult to ascertain. Consequently, its protection becomes challenging. This thesis has in that regard examined the challenges of consistently protecting unborn human life where criminal, human rights, medical and family laws have been analysed. Comparatively analysing the legal regimes of Tanzania, Kenya and Uganda, the thesis has revealed the existing legal pluralism, imported colonial laws, the legal ...

Protecting the dignity and human rights of prisoners poses difficult challenges. Degradation is a hallmark of all punishment and especially of imprisonment. Prisons as total institutions entail distinctive power relations between staff and inmates that increase risks of violations of prisoners’ dignity. Protection of human dignity is complicated by difficulties in defining the term: the sense of personal dignity experienced subjectively by the ...