Skip to main content

ETHNOS_APP

Home • Search • Journals • List 0

Human Dignity and Judicial Interpretation of Human Rights

Bibliographic Data

ID5789665
AuthorsChristopher Mccrudden (0009-0001-2280-0426, Lincoln College, corresponding author)
Year2008
Volume19
Issue4
Pages655-724
Publication date2008-09-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueEuropean Journal of International Law (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0938-5428 • E-ISSN: 1464-3596
PublisherOxford University Press (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1093/ejil/chn043
OpenAlexW2119540646
LanguageEN
Citations received148
References cited3

The Universal Declaration on Human Rights was pivotal in popularizing the use of 'dignity' or 'human dignity' in human rights discourse. This article argues that the use of 'dignity', beyond a basic minimum core, does not provide a universalistic, principled basis for judicial decision-making in the human rights context, in the sense that there is little common understanding of what dignity requires substantively within or across jurisdictions. The meaning of dignity is therefore context-specific, varying significantly from jurisdiction to jurisdiction and (often) over time within particular jurisdictions. Indeed, instead of providing a basis for principled decision-making, dignity seems open to significant judicial manipulation, increasing rather than decreasing judicial discretion. That is one of its significant attractions to both judges and litigators alike. Dignity provides a convenient language for the adoption of substantive interpretations of human rights guarantees which appear to be intentionally, not just coincidentally, highly contingent on local circumstances. Despite that, however, I argue that the concept of 'human dignity' plays an important role in the development of human rights adjudication, not in providing an agreed content to human rights but in contributing to particular methods of human rights interpretation and adjudication

Adjudication · Dignity · Judicial interpretation · International Law and Human Rights · Judicial and Constitutional Studies · Ombudsman and Human Rights

  • Dimensions of Maqāṣid Al-Sharī‘ah and Human Rights in the Constitutional Court’s Decision on Marriage Age Difference in Indonesia

    Open Access•Agus Purnomo, Nor Salam et al.•SAMARAH Jurnal Hukum Keluarga dan…•2023

  • Human dignity, self-worth, and humiliation

    Doron Shultziner, Itai Rabinovici•Psychology Public Policy and Law•2012

  • Religion as a Predictor for the Support of Judicial Human Rights

    Hans-Georg Ziebertz, Hans‐georg Ziebertz•Journal of Empirical Theology•2017

  • On the Relatively Recent Rise of Human Dignity

    Jeffrey Flynn•Anthropological Quarterly•2016

  • Dignity, rank, and rights

    Jeremy Waldron, Meir Dan-Cohen•Dignity, rank, and rights•2012

  • The Politics of the Human

    Open Access•A Phillips•Politics of the Human•2015

  • Degradation

    Elaine Webster•Humiliation, Degradation,…•2011

  • Introduction

    Open Access•B C Van Beers, Britta Van Beers et al.•Humanity Across International Law…•2014

  • Globalization and Sovereignty

    Open Access•Jean L Cohen•Globalization and Sovereignty•2012

  • Dignity Rather than Right

    Open Access•John Milbank•Open Insight•2014

  • Democracy and Human Dignity

    Open Access•Christoph Möllers, Christoph Möllers�•Israel Law Review•2009

  • Benedict’s Legacy

    Open Access•Christopher Mccrudden•Pope Benedict XVI's Legal Thought•2015

  • El concepto de dignidad humana y la utopía realista de los derechos humanos

    Open Access•Jürgen Habermas•Diánoia Revista de Filosofía•2016

  • Human Dignity and Human Rights

    Pablo Gilabert•Human Dignity and Human Rights•2018

  • The Concept of Human Dignity and the Realistic Utopia of Human Rights

    Jürgen Habermas

  • Replaying the Past

    Open Access•Emily Kidd White•Oñati Socio-legal Series•2019

  • Replaying the Past

    Open Access•Emily Kidd White•Oñati Socio-legal Series•2019

  • Deference, Dignity and ‘Theoretical Crisis’

    Open Access•Corina Heri•Human Rights Law Review•2023

  • What is an 'absolute right'? Deciphering Absoluteness in the Context of Article 3 of the European Convention on Human Rights

    Natasa Mavronicola•Human Rights Law Review•2012

  • Safeguarding Physical and Mental Health Rights in African Conflict Regions

    Open Access•Adetayo E Obasa•Journal of Bioethical Inquiry•2026

  • Algorithmic Sentencing and Human Dignity

    Michael Law-Smith•Criminal Justice Ethics•2026

  • Algunas reflexiones críticas en torno a las ideas de J. Waldron y R. Dworkin sobre la dignidad humana

    Open Access•Ana Strineka-Bande•Persona y Derecho•2026

  • Evaluation of the ethical dimensions of forensic DNA databases

    Open Access•Itir Erkan•Medicine Science and the Law•2026

  • A critical evaluation of Clifford Christians’s media ethics theory

    Open Access•Robert Z Cortes•Church, Communication and Culture•2020

  • Human Dignity in the Era of Artificial Intelligence and Robotics

    Open Access•Kizito Alakwe•Journal of Humanities and Social…•2023

  • Facing fundamental rights in the age of preventive ex ante AI

    Open Access•María Teresa García-Berrio Hernández•Deusto Journal of Human Rights•2024

  • Arguments of Dignity and Pluralism Concerns in Recent Constitutional Court Adjudication

    Open Access•Angioletta Sperti•Direitos Culturais/Revista…•2020

  • Los usos del término “dignidad” en la jurisprudencia de la Corte Interamericana de Derechos Humanos

    Open Access•Jorge Nicolás Lafferrière, Helga María Lell•Opinión Jurídica•2022

  • Beyond Reasonableness

    Open Access•Kai Möller•Canadian Journal of Law &…•2021

  • De la revuelta a la nueva constitución

    Open Access•Hernán Ignacio Gómez Yuri•Anuario de Derechos Humanos•2022

  • Triangulation of Theoretical and Empirical Conceptualizations Related to the Rule of Law

    Open Access•Filip Horák, David Lacko•Hague Journal on the Rule of Law•2023

  • Reclaiming human dignity

    Open Access•Patrícia Frantz, Francisca Rego et al.•Medicine Health Care and Philosophy•2025

  • Future of global regulation of human genome editing

    Open Access•Bonginkosi Shozi, Tamanda Kamwendo et al.•Journal of Medical Ethics•2022

  • Human Dignity Along a Spectrum

    Open Access•Antonella Patteri, Witold Klaus•International Migration Review•2026

  • Taste-Based Statistical Discrimination

    Open Access•Lemaro Thompson•Journal of Business Ethics•2026

  • Cultural heritage

    Open Access•Branko Rakić, Rakić Branko M•Socioloski pregled•2020

  • “We’re Silent Heroes”

    Open Access•Taryn Vanderpyl•The Prison Journal•2021

  • Human rights under pressure

    Open Access•Maciej Potz•Futures•2026

  • Dignity at the limit

    Open Access•Bryan Lueck•Man and World•2016

  • Is There a Duty to Respect “Historical” Faith? Christian Proselytism of an Older Jewish Woman With Dementia

    Open Access•Israel Doron, Israel Issi Doron et al.•Journal of Law and Religion•2016

  • The Concept of Human Dignity and the Realistic Utopia of Human Rights

    Open Access•Jürgen Habermas•Philosophical Dimensions of Human…•2012

  • Responsive Human Rights

    Open Access•Corina Heri•Responsive Human Rights•2021

  • International Human Rights and Mental Disability Law

    Michael L Perlin•International human rights and…•2011

  • The Concept of Human Dignity and the Realistic Utopia of Human Rights

    Open Access•Jürgen Habermas, Nicole Curato•Metaphilosophy•2010

  • Europe's Migration Crisis

    Open Access•Vicki Squire•Europe's Migration Crisis•2020

  • A Commentary on the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights

    Open Access•Paul M Taylor•Commentary on the International…•2020

  • Debate jurídico sobre a prostituição, a dignidade da pessoa humana e o direito fundamental ao trabalho

    Open Access•Bárbara Natália Lages Lobo, José Adércio Leite Sampaio•Debate Feminista•2018

  • A New Dawn for Gay Rights in Botswana

    Open Access•Gosego Rockfall Lekgowe•Journal of African Law•2023

  • Orthodox Theology in Dialogue with Human Rights

    Alfons Brüning•Exchange•2016

  • The Uses and Limits of Legalism

    Jean L Cohen•University of Toronto Law Journal•2017

  • A letter to the loser’? Public law and the empowering role of the judgment

    Sarah Murray•Griffith Law Review•2014

  • A Systematic Review of Family Violence Prevention Among Indigenous Populations

    Open Access•Kate M Edwards, Arielle R Deutsch et al.•Journal of Family Violence•2025

  • I’m Outside the Box. Too Outside the Box, I Explode It!”

    Danielle Filipiak, Danielle R Filipiak•Research in the Teaching of English•2024

  • Impacts of meeting minimum access on critical earth systems amidst the Great Inequality

    Open Access•C Rammelt, Jagdish Gupta et al.•Nature Sustainability•2022

  • Criteria to scrutinize new rights

    Open Access•Luísa Netto•Revista de Investigações…•2021

  • O STF e o ensino religioso em escolas públicas

    Open Access•Cristina Sílvia Alves Lourenço, Maurício Sullivan Balhe Guedes•Revista de Investigações…•2017

  • Termination of Employment Based on Employee’s HIV Status

    Open Access•Mary-Ann Onoshioke Ajay, David Tarh-Akong Eyongndi•The Age of Human Rights Journal•2023

  • Exploring the use of the concept human dignity in disability human rights law

    Open Access•Elif Çelik•The Age of Human Rights Journal•2021

  • The Political, Legal and Moral Scope of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights

    Open Access•Ángeles Solanes Corella•The Age of Human Rights Journal•2018

  • Hobbes and the economic, social and cultural rights of the universal declaration of human rights

    Open Access•Javier Hernández, Santiago Dussan•The Age of Human Rights Journal•2021

  • Algorithmic Discrimination From the Perspective of Human Dignity

    Open Access•Carsten Orwat•Social Inclusion•2024

  • Dignity Disputed

    Open Access•Connor M Ewing•Journal of Law and Courts•2023

  • Chaos in the Sporting World over Russia’s War of Aggression

    Open Access•Patricia Wiater•Business and Human Rights Journal•2023

  • Legal doctrine as human rights ‘practice’

    Open Access•Michael Da Silva•Global Constitutionalism•2022

  • A Difficult Legacy

    Open Access•Paweł Łuków•Human Rights Review•2018

  • Interpretation of the Prohibition of Torture

    Open Access•Elaine Webster•Human Rights Review•2016

  • Academic Bullying and Human Rights

    Open Access•Dora Kostakopoulou, Matt Mahmoudi•Human Rights Review•2024

  • Ageing with Dignity

    Open Access•Ahmed Shahid•Human Rights Review•2014

  • Measuring cyber pornography based on Indonesian living law

    Open Access•Hwian Christianto•International journal of law,…•2019

  • History of the present of the right to play, affective governance, and making exclusion in joy

    Open Access•Chushan Wu•Critical Studies in Education•2025

  • Theuth, Thamus, and digital civics

    Open Access•Estelle Clements•Memory Studies•2022

  • The limits of (digital) constitutionalism

    Open Access•Monique Mann, Angela Daly et al.•International Communication Gazette•2018

  • Human dignity

    Open Access•Stephen Riley•International Journal of Law in…•2010

  • Dignity as humanness

    Open Access•María Pardo-Vergara•International Journal of Law in…•2025

  • Respect for human dignity as ‘substantive basic norm’

    Open Access•Mary Neal•International Journal of Law in…•2014

  • The legal recognition of personality

    Open Access•Jill Marshall•International Journal of Law in…•2014

  • Accounts of vulnerability within positive human rights obligations

    Open Access•Nikki Godden-Rasul, C Murray•International Journal of Law in…•2023

  • Normative Versus Taxonomic Humanity

    Jack Donnelly•Journal of Human Rights•2015

  • Taking it on the chin”

    Open Access•J Robert G Williams, John Williams•The Journal of Adult Protection•2021

  • The expressive function of human dignity

    Open Access•Stefano Civitarese Matteucci, Giorgio Repetto•European Journal of Social Security•2021

  • Are human rights associative rights? The debate between humanist and political conceptions of human rights revisited

    Cristina Lafont•Critical Review of International…•2020

  • Long-term urgent interests and human rights practice

    Ana Solano Campos•Critical Review of International…•2020

  • Human” dignity beyond the human

    Open Access•Matthew W Perry•Critical Review of International…•2023

  • LGBT rights versus Asian values

    Po-Han Lee•The International Journal of…•2016

  • Vernacularising human dignity in human rights education

    Open Access•Gillian Kane, Rachel Killean et al.•The International Journal of…•2024

  • Self respect—A “Rawlsian Primary Good” unprotected by the European Convention on Human Rights and its lack of a coherent approach to stigmatization

    Open Access•Paul Quinn, Paul De Hert•International Journal of…•2013

  • The Language of Dignity in International Law

    Open Access•Eric Scarffe•Res Publica. Revista de Historia…•2024

  • The World Conference on Human Rights

    Dorothea Anthony•Australian Journal of Human Rights•2019

  • A human rights-based approach to compulsory treatment of young people experiencing mental disorder

    Jane Kotzmann, Nandi Bhatia et al.•Australian Journal of Human Rights•2018

  • The Limits of Dignity at the Intersection of Autonomy, Identity and Affect

    Open Access•Caroline Hodes•Feminist Legal Studies•2020

  • Taking wishes and feelings seriously

    Nell Munro•The Journal of Social Welfare Law•2014

  • Dignity or discrimination

    Jule Mulder•The Journal of Social Welfare Law•2018

  • Social rights, child rights, discrimination and devolution

    Mark Simpson•The Journal of Social Welfare Law•2018

  • Human dignity as an essentially contested concept

    Philippe-André Rodriguez•Cambridge Review of International…•2015

  • Bang Jung Whan – The Korean Pioneer of Children’s Rights

    Yanghee Lee, Byungsoo Jung•The International Journal of…•2015

  • Justifying Children’s Rights

    John Tobin•The International Journal of…•2013

  • Protecting the mental realm

    Open Access•Timo Istace•Netherlands Quarterly of Human…•2023

  • Non-pecuniary damages before the European Court of Human Rights

    Open Access•Veronika Fikfak•Leiden Journal of International Law•2020

  • Should We Take the “Human” Out of Human Rights? Human Dignity in a Corporate World

    Open Access•Cristina Lafont•Ethics & International Affairs•2016

  • Human Dignity and Transitional Justice in European Post-Conflict Societies

    Open Access•Petra Kleindienst, Matevž Tomšič•International Journal of Politics…•2025

  • Prejudicial Appearances

    Cynthia Fuchs Epstein, Robert C Post et al.•Contemporary Sociology A Journal…•2003

  • Human Dignity as a Foundational Value of Our Constitutional Order

    Arthur Chaskalson•South African Journal on Human…•2000

Unique citing works148
Citations per year8,71
Citation span2009 - 2026 (18)
Citation velocitycurrent
Highly citedYes
Citation typesNeutral: 144
Ethnos_APP • Open Source Project • MIT License • Frontend v2.0.0 • Privacy and Cookies • API Documentation: api.ethnos.app/docs • API Source Code: GitHub • DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.17049435 • Frontend Source Code: GitHub • DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.17050053 • cruz.rio.br • Expectantes Misericordiae