To help teams design and implement programs that increase respect for dignity and to advance understanding of the role human dignity plays in humanitarian and development activities, CRS collaborated with the University of Notre Dame to develop two measures of respect for human dignity that can be used across programming sectors. CRS has also developed a measure of respect for human dignity among employees.
The Project Respect for Participant Dignity Scale assesses the extent to which project implementation respects the dignity of participants. The Respect for Dignity in Daily Life Index assesses the extent to which project participants’ dignity is respected in their households, communities, and institutions and assesses the extent that participants respect others’ dignity. The Human Dignity Index assesses the extent to which the dignity of an organization staff is respected by the organization and the staff’s supervisor.
Measuring Respect for Human Dignity: Guidance for Development and Humanitarian Programs provides guidance for programs to use the Project Respect for Participant Dignity Scale and the Respect for Dignity in Daily Life Index.
The Survey Instrument – Dignity Measures is a survey tool that can be used to collect data on these measures. A CommCare project space is also available to use for data for these measures.
The Guidance on Using the Human Dignity Index provides guidance on applying the Human Dignity Index among staff and responding to results.
The measures build on concepts identified in Upholding Human Dignity: A Literature Review.