Search for a command to run...
This chapter examines the conceptual and legal evolution of human dignity as a transformative driver for sustainable development and poverty alleviation. By integrating the Capabilities Approach, pioneered by Amartya Sen and Martha Nussbaum, the authors argue that the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development must move beyond aggregate economic metrics toward a human-centered framework that prioritizes individual agency and well-being. The chapter analyzes the “Leave No One Behind” (LNOB) principle as a normative bridge connecting international human rights law with socio-economic policy, specifically focusing on the judicial translation of dignity within the constitutional frameworks of Germany, South Africa, and India. Furthermore, it explores Global South perspectives offer a more inclusive, culturally resonant understanding of development. Ultimately, this chapter per the authors identifies the critical role of social protection systems, grievance redress mechanisms, and environmental justice in safeguarding the subsistence minimum.