Dignity of the human person is a set of principles and values that have the function of ensuring that each citizen has their rights respected by the state. The main objective is to guarantee the well-being of all citizens.
The dignity of the human person is a fundamental principle of Brazil, and means that it is an objective to be fulfilled by the State through the actions of its governments.
The principle is linked to rights and duties and involves the necessary conditions for a person to have a decent life, with respect for these rights and duties. It is also related to moral values because it aims to ensure that citizens are respected in their personal issues and values.
The dignity of the human person and fundamental rights
Many basic citizen rights (fundamental rights) are related to the principle of human dignity, especially the individual and collective and social rights.
Respect for fundamental rights is essential to guarantee the existence of dignity. And it is precisely for this reason that the dignity of the human person is recognized as fundamental by the Federal Constitution.
You individual and collective rights they are the basic rights that guarantee equality for all citizens. Some of the most important are:
- Right to life,
- right to security,
- equal rights and obligations between men and women,
- freedom of expression of thought,
- freedom of belief in your religion.
There are also individual and collective rights: protection of privacy, freedom to work, freedom of movement and freedom to exercise artistic or intellectual activities.
already the social rights they are the rights related to the well-being of the citizen. Some examples are:
- right to education and work,
- guarantee of access to health, transport, housing, security, social security,
- protection of labor rights,
- protection of children, maternity and the neediest.
Learn more about the Fundamental rights.
The dignity of the human person and the Democratic Rule of Law
The dignity of the human person is a principle of the democratic rule of law, which is the State that respects and guarantees the human rights and fundamental rights of its citizens.
Thus, it can be understood as a principle that places limits on the actions of the State. Thus, the dignity of the human person must be used to base decisions taken by the State, always considering the interests and well-being of citizens.
This means that, in addition to guaranteeing people the exercise of their fundamental rights, the State must also act with sufficient care so that these rights are not infringed upon.
It is an obligation of the State, through governments, to take measures to guarantee the rights and well-being of citizens. In the same way, it is also the State's task to ensure that fundamental rights are not violated.
The Dignity of the Human Person in the Federal Constitution of 1988
The dignity of the human person is a foundation of the Democratic Rule of Law, foreseen as a fundamental principle of the Federative Republic of Brazil.
The forecast is contained in article 1, III of the Federal Constitution:
Article 1 - The Federative Republic of Brazil, formed by the indissoluble union of the States and Municipalities and the Federal District, constitutes a Democratic State of Law and has as its foundations:
III – the dignity of the human person.
The provision in the Constitution confirms that the principle and respect for fundamental rights are the base that should guide State actions, interpretation and application of laws.
See more about the meanings of federal Constitution, Social rights and Dignity.