Human dignity - an ecumenical understanding?

A history of at least sixty years of ecumenical co-operation in the area of human rights shows continuous attention to the concept of human dignity. However it is not self-evident that this concept furthers ecumenical dialogue as well as dialogue with other religious and philosophical traditions. Connections are shown with the universalism-relativism debate in international law and with different views of the essence of law as such. Finally, the possible specific contribution of Christian theology towards a wider debate on human dignity is explored, and a challenge for Protestant theology is identified.