Abstract
When human dignity is referred to in the context of the German Constitution or in the preamble to the UN Declaration of Human Rights, this means an inherent dignity which belongs to its bearer, not from time to time, but permanently. It is argued here that this inherent dignity means the right not to be humiliated. A violation of human dignity is committed when a person is treated in a manner which does not allow them to respect themselves. Human dignity is a good of high value. It is however not the case that all moral duties that we owe others can be traced to the concept of human dignity.