Dignity and Capabilities: An Approach to Human Development CANCELLED

To promote the full exercise of Human Rights it is necessary to have a complete definition of dignity which includes, amongst other things, the relevance of human development without losing sight of the notion of respect to personal identity, local context and cultural identity, all of these contemplating the importance of allowing social actors to become, by themselves, the ones who develop a capacity to construct quality of life, sustainable development and the overcoming of their own social problems. By explaining the situation in this way, it seems that the Theory of Capabilities gives the best solution, specifically the contribution made by philosopher Martha Nussbaum in which a capabilities list proposes that individuals with a full flourishment of capabilities would be able to become key factors in guaranteeing the fulfillment of Human Rights focusing on human development. Recalling what has been described above, it is not surprising that the UN (United Nations) has given such attention to the Theory of Capabilities as a promising strategy to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (eradicating extreme poverty, achieving universal primary education, promoting gender equality and empowerment of women, reducing child and maternal mortality, ensuring environmental sustainability, etc.) However, and this is the main goal of this paper’s analysis, it seems like the implementation of Nussbaum’s Theory of Capabilities would make the UN’s action for social assistance, promoting Human Rights and propulsive human development shortsighted in time and duration; meaning that once the conditions are set for full development and enjoyment of capabilities, the interventional work of the UN would be over, although, apparently, the way they are working with the Theory of Capabilities suggests the contrary.