“ERODING HUMAN DIGNITY IN CONSTITUTIONAL PRACTICE: A CRITICAL STUDY OF GAPS IN DOMESTIC IMPLEMENTATION OF INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS NORMS IN DEMOCRACIES’’
AUTHOR – NIKTHI.J* & KALAIARASI.L**
STUDENTS AT THE TAMILNADU DR. AMBEDKAR LAW UNIVERSITY(SOEL)
BEST CITATION – NIKTHI.J & KALAIARASI.L, “ERODING HUMAN DIGNITY IN CONSTITUTIONAL PRACTICE: A CRITICAL STUDY OF GAPS IN DOMESTIC IMPLEMENTATION OF INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS NORMS IN DEMOCRACIES’’, INDIAN JOURNAL OF LEGAL REVIEW (IJLR), 6 (9) OF 2026, PG. 522-530, APIS – 3920 – 0001 & ISSN – 2583-2344.
ABSTRACT:
This research paper explores the intersection of human dignity and government accountability, focusing on how contemporary democracies, including the United States, European states, and India, violate or uphold international human rights standards. Using a doctrinal methodology and grounded in international frameworks like the UDHR, ICCPR, ICESCR, and the ECHR, the paper critically analyses policies and practices that undermine human dignity through examples such as custodial violence, migrant deportations, and asylum restrictions. Particular attention is given to India’s treatment of foreign nationals, including Rohingya refugees and undocumented migrants, revealing systemic gaps between constitutional ideals and ground realities. Comparative insights from the U.S. under the Trump administration and European countries such as Hungary and the UK demonstrate how legal obligations are frequently bypassed under the guise of national interest. The study concludes that while international and domestic legal frameworks recognize human dignity as a foundational value, meaningful implementation remains inconsistent and often politically compromised. The paper calls for stronger domestic incorporation of international human rights obligations, institutional accountability, and legal reforms to ensure the protection of human dignity across borders.
KEYWORDS:
Human dignity, government accountability, Amnesty International organization, European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR), ICCPR, UDHR, ICESCR