PRINCIPLE OF HUMAN DIGNITY AND EQUALITY

DEFINITION
Human Dignity
- An individual or group's sense of self-respect and self-worth, physical and
psychological integrity and empowerment.
(www.duhaime.org/LegalDictionary/H/HumanDignity.aspx)
Human Equality
- Equality is about ensuring that every individual has an equal opportunity to make
the most of their lives and talents, and believing that no one should have poorer life
chances because of where, what or whom they were born, what they believe, or whether
they have a disability. Equality recognises that historically, certain groups of people with
particular characteristics e.g. race, disability, sex and sexuality, have experienced
discrimination. (https://www.equalityhumanrights.com/en/secondary-educationresources/useful-information/understanding-equality)
CASE
Human Dignity
- Every single person is created in the image of God. Therefore they are invaluable
and worthy of respect as a member of the human family. The dignity of the person grants
them inalienable rights political, legal, social, and economic rights. This is the most
important principle because it is from our dignity as human persons that all other rights
and responsibilities flow. (basic guiding principles set by Pope Leo)
(http://www.catholic.org.nz/social-action/dsp-default.cfm?loadref=62)
Human Equality
- Equality of all people comes from their inherent human dignity. Differences in
talents are part of Gods plan, but social, cultural, and economic discrimination is not.
(basic guiding principles set by Pope Leo)

One Womans Story

I am a Zambian girl by nationality and am in my late teens. I was trafficked from Zambia into the
UK in early January 2007. I managed to escape from my trafficker around the end of February. I
hated myself, the whole world and everyone in it. I thought I had nothing to live for because
back home I had lost my young sister and my mum and I never knew my dad. Life has been so
difficult.

However, I thank God for giving me the strength to hold on and for directing me to the right
people. After my escape I came into contact with The Medaille Trust in March 2007, who have
accommodated, fed me and provided me with some pocket money every week.
A lot of things have changed in my life from the time I came to the Medaille Trust. I was so
depressed that I attempted suicide; I had no hope for tomorrow. My dreams were hopeless; I
had no strength in me and I didnt care about anything. All I wanted was to die and forget about
all the suffering and pain I went through.
I thank God because people in the Medaille Trust didnt give up on me. They showed me love
and encouraged me in all the areas I needed help with. I have also been attending counselling,
which has been so helpful.
I have made very good friends in the safe house and I have learnt a lot from them, for example I
have learnt about their cultures and food. Now I can even speak a small amount of Thai and
Nigerian languages. I have achieved a lot in a short time. I thought it was going to take years for
me to feel like a young lady again. I have gained my confidence. I feel pretty again and am even
wiser from the experiences I have had in my life.
The most important thing that has made me happy is being able to go back to school. I am
studying Travel and Tourism at the local college. It gives me hope that there is a bright future for
me, and that I can be what I have always wanted to be in life.
My entire special thanks to the manager of the house, the staff and to everyone who has made
it possible to keep the charity going. May God bless you all.
(http://www.catholicsocialteaching.org.uk/themes/human-dignity/stories/womans-story-2/)

CRITIQUE
This is the bedrock principle of Catholic social teaching. Every person--regardless of race, sex,
age, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, employment or economic status, health,
intelligence, achievement or any other differentiating characteristic--is worthy of respect.
(http://americamagazine.org/issue/100/ten-building-blocks-catholic-social-teaching)

BACKGROUND
There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female:
for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
Galatians 3:28

"At stake is the dignity of the human person, whose defense and promotion have been
entrusted to us by the Creator"
Saint John Paul II, Solicitude Rei Socialis
God created man and woman in his image.
Genesis 1:26-31
Human persons are willed by God; they are imprinted with God's image. Their dignity does not
come from the work they do, but from the persons they are.
On the Hundredth Year: Centesimus annus
Jesus then asked: Which of these three do you think was a neighbour to the man who fell into
the hands of robbers? The lawyer replied, The one who had mercy on him. Jesus told him,
Go and do likewise.
The Story of the Good Samaritan, Luke 10:25-37
The challenge to love ones neighbour, can be very costly. It can cost us our time, money, pride
and it can be an inconvenience. It is however a challenge that we are called to live up to.
Especially if we have the means to help. But the love for ones neighbour can also be free and
does not cost anything. By simply valuing or appreciating the other person we show that they
have worth and they are human beings created in the image of God.
Rampe Hlobo, Jesuit Refugee Service
There exist also sinful inequalities that affect millions of men and women. These are in open
contradiction of the Gospel: Their equal dignity as persons demands that we strive for fairer
and more humane conditions. Excessive economic and social disparity between individuals and
peoples of the one human race is a source of scandal and militates against social justice,
equity, human dignity, as well as social and international peace.
Catechism of the Catholic Church
"For, by his Incarnation, he, the son of God, in a certain way united himself with each man"
Vatican II
"Dear friends, it is certainly necessary to give bread to the hungry this is an act of justice. But
there is also a deeper hunger, the hunger for a happiness that only God can satisfy, the hunger
for dignity. There is neither real promotion of the common good nor real human development
when there is ignorance of the fundamental pillars that govern a nation, its non-material goods:
life, which is a gift of God, a value always to be protected and promoted; the family,the
foundation of coexistence and a remedy against social fragmentation; integral education, which
cannot be reduced to the mere transmission of information for purposes of generating profit;
health, which must seek the integral well-being of the person, including the spiritual dimension,

essential for human balance and healthy coexistence; security, in the conviction that violence
can be overcome only by changing human hearts."
Pope Francis
Can we add some of this? See link: https://educationforjustice.org/freefiles/HumanDignity09.pdf
VIDEO/S?