Martin Seeger @masek@infosec.exchange
Public

What are the legal implications?

  • Absolute protection: Unlike many other rights in the Basic Law, dignity cannot be restricted or suspended—not even in a state of emergency.
  • Interpretative principle: All other constitutional rights and laws must be read in light of human dignity. For example, freedom of speech or freedom of the press stops where it degrades human dignity.
  • Judicial review: The Federal Constitutional Court (Bundesverfassungsgericht) often uses dignity as a guiding star in its rulings. Famous examples include:
    • The ban on torture, even to save lives.
    • Limits on state surveillance that would treat citizens as mere “objects.”

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Martin Seeger @masek@infosec.exchange
Public

The right is not limited in any way. It does not depend on you being a German. Your religion or place of birth are irrelevant concerning this right. It does not matter if you are cis, bi, gay, trans....

This right is protected by the “eternity provision” (Ewigkeitsklausel), which states that certain core principles of the constitution are unalterable — not even by a constitutional amendment passed with the largest possible majority.

No parliament, no government, no referendum can abolish, relativize, or suspend the principle of human dignity.

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