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Dignitatis Humanae Institute
The Dignitatis Humanae Institute is a political think-tank based in Rome, Italy whose mission statement is to ‘promote human dignity based both on the recognition that every person is made in the Image and Likeness of God, and the Christian Faith in the public square.’ The Institute coordinates several parliamentary working groups on human dignity based in various legislatures.

History
According to the founder, Benjamin Harnwell, the motivation to create the Institute derived from a case in 2004 when Italian politician Rocco Buttiglione was forced vetoed for the position of the European Union’s new commissioner for Justice, Freedom and Security; apparently because of his Catholic beliefs. In 2009, a collection of European, Catholic politicians formed the Institute, in addition to the creation of several human dignity working groups across European legislatures.

Universal Declaration of Human Dignity
The ‘Universal Declaration of Human Dignity’ aims to codify what is meant by human dignity:

‘that man is made in the image and likeness of God; that this image and likeness proceeds in every single human being without exception from conception until natural death; and that the most effective means of safeguarding this recognition is through the active participation of the Christian faith in the public square.’

The Universal Declaration is the basis of several parliamentary working groups in various European legislatures, to promote the aims in legislation.

Organisation
The Dignitatis Humanae Institute has operated from Rome since 2011, moving from its office in the European Parliament where it had operated since its founding in 2008. Since July 2010, Cardinal Renato Raffaele Martino has held the position of Honorary President.