Darcia Narvaez, Ph.D., Professor of Psychology, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana, U.S.A.

Dignity for me means honoring the unique needs of each person and helping them unfold their unique beauty.

Darcia Narvaez is Professor of Psychology at the University of Notre Dame who focuses on moral development and flourishing from an interdisciplinary perspective, integrating anthropology, neuroscience, clinical, developmental and educational sciences. Her earlier careers include professional musician, business owner, classroom music teacher, classroom Spanish teacher and seminarian, among other things. She grew up bilingual/bicultural but calls the earth her home. Dr. Narvaez’s current research explores how early life experience influences wellbeing and moral character in children and adults. She is a fellow of the American Psychological Association and the American Educational Research Association and is former editor of the Journal of Moral Education She has published numerous articles and chapters, and more than 20 books, including Indigenous Sustainable Wisdom: First Nation Know-how for Global Flourishing; Basic Needs, Wellbeing and Morality: Fulfilling Human Potential and Embodied Morality: Protectionism, Engagement and Imagination. A recent book, Neurobiology and the Development of Human Morality: Evolution, Culture and Wisdom won the 2015 William James Book Award from the American Psychological Association and the 2017 Expanded Reason Award. She writes a blog for Psychology Today (“Moral Landscapes”) and hosts the webpage EvolvedNest.org.
Darcia acknowledges her presence at the University of Notre Dame on the traditional homeland of the Pokégnek Bodéwadmik / Pokagon Potawatomi, who have been using this land for education for thousands of years, and continue to do so.

Message from Evelin Lindner: Thank you so much, dear Darcia, for sharing your most valuable and foundational work with us, in our Dignilogues, and in your lecture Returning to Evolved Nestedness, Wellbeing, and Mature Human Nature, an Ecological Imperative on 20th September, in the Public Event of our conference!

Darcia Narvaez (DAR-sha narv-EYES), PhD (she, her, they, their, them)
Professor of Psychology Emerita, Psychology Department
ADDRESS: 390 Corbett, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame IN 46556 USA
University Website with downloadable papers
- 6-minute film: Breaking the Cycle (in Spanish and Subtitled in 16 languages at YouTube)
- 8-minute film: The Evolved Nest: Nature's Way of Raising Children
- 12-minute film: Reimagining Humanity (in Spanish and Subtitled in 16 languages)
- Watch 2-minute trailer

The Evolved Nest (Evolved Developmental Niche (academic papers)
Co-Founder, EvolvedNest.Org (podcasts, info, and monthly newsletter)
Also see DarciaNarvaez.com
Blog: The Nested Pathway
Twitter: @MoralLandscapes, @EvolvedNest
Facebook: Moral Landscapes, EvolvedNest
Youtube: Evolved Nest Initiative
DarciaNarvaez
SoundCloud (podcasts): Evolved Nest
Archived Blog at Psychology Today: Moral Landscapes

Recent books:
- The Evolved Nest: Nature's Way of Raising Children and Creating Connected Communities
- Restoring the Kinship Worldview: Indigenous Voices Introduce 28 Precepts for Rebalancing Life on Planet Earth (North Atlantic)
- Indigenous Sustainable Wisdom: First Nation Know-How for Global Flourishing  (Peter Lang)
- Neurobiology and the Development of Human Morality: Evolution, Culture and Wisdom (winner of the 2017 Expanded Reason Award and the 2015 APA William James Book Award)

Mohammad Abul Kalam Azad, Ph.D., Dhaka, Bangladesh, Center for General Education, Manarat International University

Dignity for me is the desire to honour a person and humiliation is the public embarrassment from a situation.
I would like to lead a Dignilogue and share a paper on 'Humiliation, Shame, and Suicide in Bangladesh: Way to Overcome'.

Mohammad Abul Kalam Azad is Assistant Professor and Coordinator of the Center of General Education (GED), as well as Assistant Adviser for Student's Welfare at Manrat International University in Dhaka, Bangladesh. He has completed his M.A. degree in Peace Education at the United Nations mandated University for Peace in Costa Rica. Md. Azad has a bachelor’s degree and another Master’s degree in Islamic Studies from the University of Dhaka, Bangladesh. He has worked as a Research Assistant for USAID, where his research topic was “Pre-primary and Primary Madrasah Education in Bangladesh”. He has joined in the "Generations For Peace, Amman, Jordan, Training Camp-2009" in 2009, the “Curriculum Development Workshop on Peace Education in Islamic Context” in Toronto, Canada, in 2006, and in Yogyakarta in Indonesia in 2007. He did voluntary work for a variety of organizations that dealt with natural disasters in Bangladesh ranging from Rotary Club to Bangladesh National Cadet Corps, to Bangladesh Tourist Society. He was also president of several organizations, such as the Student Welfare Association in Mothbaria, Islamic Studies Cultural Forum, and Bangladesh Islamic Studies Forum. [read more]
Please see:
• Peace and Stability in Bangladesh through Charity, Sustainable Development and Peace Education in Bangladesh, San Jose, Costa Rica: United Nations-mandated University for Peace, Project Development Report, 2006.
• Sustainable Development in Bangladesh: Problem and Prospects, paper presented at the 23rd Annual Conference of Human Dignity and Humiliation Studies 'Returning Dignity', in Chiang Mai, Northern Thailand, 8th - 12th March 2014.

Message from Evelin Lindner: Dearest Azad, dear friend, it was wonderful to get to know you in 2006 in Costa Rica, where we had our 7th Dignity Conference! And then you joined us in our 23rd Dignity Conference in Chiang Mai, Thailand! It will be such a gift to have you with us again now, in 2024! Welcome!

Bishnu Pathak, Ph.D., Professor, Kathmandu, Bāgmatī, Nepal

I see dignity and humiliation as two sides of the same coin. Dignity teaches the art of dignified existence and living. Former child soldiers in Nepal seek dignity through human rights and justice. I would greatly appreciate it, if we could schedule a Dignilogue session for me on transitional justice, the peace and conflict lifecycle, and the principles of human rights.

Professor Bishnu Pathak holds a Ph.D. in Conflict Management and Human Rights and is a renowned scholar and researcher in the fields of peace, conflict, and human rights. He is best known for his pioneering work on the Peace-Conflict Lifecycle, which has garnered him international recognition. This innovative concept has led to his nomination for the Nobel Peace Prize annually since 2013. He has also contributed to practical peace-building efforts, having served as a senior commissioner at the Commission of Investigation on Enforced Disappeared Persons (CIEDP) in Nepal from 2015 to 2019. He is also recognised as the architect of Human Security Studies and the founder of the Principles of Human Security (https://www.nepaltoday.com.np/diplomacy/1101).
Bishnu Pathak was born into a poor family in a remote mountain area. His parents were illiterate. Throughout his career, he has been committed to advancing social betterment through his teachings, research, and writings. His work advocates for a world without war and focuses on liberating people from various forms of social injustice and inequality. Prof. Pathak's research interests encompass a wide range of topics, including human rights, transitional justice, human security, and conflict transformation.
He has authored over 100 international papers and coauthored several books on various topics, including human rights, transitional justice, human security, DDR-SSR, civil military relations, conflict transformation, peace, and principles of harmony including Nepal’s 2008 Constituent Assembly Elections: Converting Bullets to Ballots, East-West Center Bulletin (2008). Some of his notable publications, such as Politics of People’s War and Human Rights in Nepal (2005) and The Arts of Eastern Philosophy (2023) are widely circulated and recognised volumes.
Kindly read: Bishnu Pathak, 'Can Former Child Soldiers File a Complaint at the International Court against Nepal’s Maoist Leaders?' Featured research paper, TRANSCEND Media Service, 7 September 2020.

Message from Evelin Lindner: Dear friend, it will be such a gift to finally meet you in person! It is 14 years ago that our dear friend Chandra Prasad Siwakoti introduced you to our dignity community!

Nora Femenia, Ph.D., Conflict Resolution Professor, Mediation Trainer and Relationship Coach, Florida, U.S.A.

Dignity and humiliation for me: I have been researching the impact of humiliation for a long time.

Nora Femenia, Ph.D., is a Professor of Conflict Resolution and Consensus Building at the Labor Center at Florida International University, where she teaches courses in conflict management, cross-cultural communication, and organizational conflict systems design, both in English and Spanish. She has done extensive research and writing on the resolution of the Falklands-Malvinas conflict, exploring the emotional roots of war-prone governmental decision-making.
She has held full time teaching positions at Nova Southeastern University, the School for International Training and was Visiting Scholar at SAIS, and American University. Nora has been invited to teach at several universities in Spain, Argentina, Ecuador, Colombia and Peru, and is known for her work in Spanish at www.inter-mediacion.com.
Please see here:
• Healing Humiliation and the Need for Revenge, paper submitted to the 2007 Workshop on Humiliation and Violent Conflict, Columbia University, New York City, December 13-14, 2007.
• Humiliation Dynamics and A Therapy of Social Action: A Path to Restore Dignity after Domestic Violence, paper discussed at the International Workshop: "Humiliation Dynamics and Restorative Dialogue," Oñati International Institute for the Sociology of Law, Gipuzkoa, Spain, 10-11 April 2008.

Message from Evelin Lindner: Dear Nora, how wonderful that you will be with us in person in Madrid! It will be such a gift to see you again after 18 years! A very warm welcome! I just read The Story Behind Dr. Nora’s Work, how touching!

Georg-Wilhelm Geckler, Dipl.-Ing., Hameln, Germany

Dignity for me is the quality of every living being, received byr birth. It is humiliating to offend dignity. The topic of this conference speaks to the repair of the violation of nature by the industrialised societies. I see this repair as an urgent task.

Georg-Wilhelm Geckler, Dipl.-Ing., joined the Global Core Team in January 2020. He is a mechanical engineer who worked in a company constructing depositories for radioactive waste. Since October 2015 he is retired, moved to Hameln in Lower Saxony, Germany, and works voluntarily for the integration of Yazidi refugees from Iraq and in a Lutheran perish council. He is also a European Climate Pact Ambassador in Germany. His interests are ethics, financial economics, ecology, philosophy, and genealogy and he is eager to contribute for a future of global dignity.
Georg Geckler was born Dec. 10, 1951 in Hamburg/North Germany and went to school in the mountainous south of Germany. After Practical Training in Surrey/England and studying Mechanical Engineering at Universities in Clausthal and Western Berlin (TU Berlin) he joined his parents in their trading company that exported high precision machine tools and tools to the Near and Middle East as junior partner. On business trips he saw Teheran/Iran, Cairo/Egypt and a large part of Europe. In the beginning eighties this company had to be sold and Georg worked for three years in the crude oil and gas business. He visited Houston/TX, went to the Halliburton School in Great Yarmouth/England several times, and lived in towns all over Western Germany and also in Vienna/Austria. When crude oil and gas and also the US-Dollar came into a financial crisis in 1984 he had to move to his new field of business: He started to work in the DBE for 28 years, a company founded to plan, build, and run depositories for radioactive waste produced within Germany.
His interests are ethics, financial economics, ecology, philosophy, and genealogy.
Please see:
• "Message to the World" (Text | Video) recorded on November 30, 2020, for the 2020 Workshop on Transforming Humiliation and Violent Conflict, Virtual, Columbia University, New York City, December 10 – 12, 2020.
• Reduce Overproduction! Hamelin, Germany, November 2020.
• Georg Geckler's report of the Dignity Conference in Amman, Jordan, in September 2022 (concluded in May 2023 in English and German)

Gabriele Rabkin, Hamburg, Germany

To respect the dignity of all living beings is a universal attitude and a precondition to live with eachother in peace!
I am a member of the group Friedensinitiave der Universität Hamburg preparing the Dignity Conference in Hamburg 2026

Gabriele Rabkin was a pivotal figure in the development and implementation of the Family Literacy (FLY) project in Hamburg, Germany. She worked at the State Institute for Teacher Training and School Development (Landesinstitut für Lehrerbildung und Schulentwicklung) in Hamburg, where she led the Family Literacy project until February 2017.
After February 2017, Gabriele Rabkin shifted her focus to peace education through the arts. She is currently associated with the Center for Peace Education and Peacebuilding (Zentrum für Friedensbildung und Peacebuilding) at the University of Hamburg. Her work in this field explores the potential for intra- and interpersonal perspective shifts through artistic engagement within the framework of peace education.
The Family Literacy (FLY) project in Hamburg was initiated in the 2004/2005 school year as the first German pilot project focused on family literacy. It was part of a five-year model program called 'Promotion of Children and Youth with Migration Background - FÖRMIGæ, which was funded by the Federal and State Commission for Educational Planning and Research Promotion (BLK). The project was a collaborative effort between the UNESCO Institute for Lifelong Learning (UIL) and the State Institute for Teacher Training and School Development (LI) in Hamburg.
FLY aimed to enhance language learning and literacy among children while also empowering parents to support their children's educational journey. The project focused on the critical transition period between preschool and primary school, actively involving parents in their children's early literacy education. It had three main components: active participation of parents in the classroom, parent work parallel to classroom instruction, and joint extracurricular activities.
Evaluation results demonstrated that the project successfully helped parents support their children's language development at home, provided valuable information about the education system, and facilitated greater involvement of parents in kindergartens, preschools, and schools. Gabriele Rabkin's leadership and innovative approach to family literacy in Hamburg have been widely recognized for their positive impact on children's language and literacy development, as well as on parental involvement in education.

Michael Britton, Highland Park, New Jersey, U.S.A.

Dignity for me is empathy everywhere whereby everyone's growing into wise living matters more than money, power, status.

Message from Evelin Lindner: Dear Michael, what a gift it is to have you as a core pillar of our dignity work since 2006! Thank you so much for kindly accepting that we honored you with our 2017 Lifetime Commitment Award! I will never forget how we met on November 14, 2006, when you kindly attended my presentation titled Humiliation and the Roots of Violence: Human Conflict in a Globalizing World, to which our dear Philip Brown had invited me at the New Jersey Center for Character Education, Center for Applied Psychology, Rutgers University, New Jersey. I still have some pictures.

In the annual Workshop on Transforming Humiliation and Violent Conflict that takes place each year at Columbia University, you hold the Don Klein Celebration Lecture in place of the lecture that Don Klein held each year until he passed away in 2007, titled The Humiliation Dynamic: Looking Back... Looking Forward.

Thank you so much, dear Michael, for co-editing this important and most touching book, and for writing the Introduction:
Human Dignity: Practices, Discourses, and Transformations: Essays on Dignity Studies in Honor of Evelin G. Lindner. Edited by Chipamong Chowdhury, Michael F. Britton, and Linda M. Hartling. Lake Oswego, OR: Dignity Press, 2019.

Fatma Susan Tufan, Pennsylvania, U.S.A.

Message from Evelin Lindner: Dearest Fatma, you have no idea how much we value your deep wisdom and sensitivity! Few people have understood the dynamics of dignity and its violation through humiliation as profoundly as you have! What is particularly difficult to see and to address is unconscious bias. In your wonderfully loving and caring way, you make us all see things we were not able to see before! Thank you for being such a gift of dignity to the world and to us!

Fatma Susan Tufan has been a member of the Human Dignity and Humiliation Studies since 2019. She holds a B.A. in Sociology with a minor in Peace and Justices from Moravian University, Pennsylvania., U.S.A., and an M.A. in the Social-Psychology program at Teachers College, Columbia University, New York City. She also completed an Advanced Certificate Program in Cooperation and Conflict Resolution at the Morton-Deutsch International Cooperation and Conflict Resolution Center, Columbia University.
In her work, Fatma primarily focuses on sustainable solutions to drivers of conflict in human relations. She has 18 years of experience in Interfaith Dialogue. Currently, she is working on turning her dialogue and constructive conflict related real-life experiences into stories to share with the rest of the world. Fatma identifies herself as a global citizen. [read more]

Ella Autti, Rovaniemi, Finland

Ella Autti is currently undertaking PhD research into shame and humiliation in healthcare work communities at the University of Lapland, Finland. She aims to pursue an understanding of the dialogues and systems that humiliate or cause shame in work settings. She holds a master's degree in social sciences and has a background in marketing and communications. Ella is filled with a desire to help healthcare organizations to have mutually respectful and dignified work cultures.
Ella Nygård Autti wishes to help healthcare organisations to have mutually respectful and humane work cultures. She is currently undertaking PhD research into shame and humiliation in healthcare work communities at the University of Lapland, Finland. She aims to pursue an understanding of the systems and dialogues that humiliate or cause shame in work settings.  She holds a master's degree in social sciences and has a background in marketing and communications. She believes that all beings deserve being treated with kindness and dignity.
See:
• "Over the Rainbow" (Video), sung at the First World Dignity University Initiative Workshop, titled "For People and the Planet: Learning for a Future of Dignity," hosted online on December 9, 2022, representing the 19th Annual Workshop co-hosted by Morton Deutsch International Center for Cooperation and Conflict Resolution at Teachers College, Columbia University.
• Graphics:

Stefanie Dinkelbach, Ph.D., Independent scholar and artist, Cork, Ireland

Dignity for me is experienced when the connection to the self, to others and to the world is established thereby engendering the potential for mindful, empathic and peaceful co-existence.

Stefanie kindly shared on 18th July 2024: I have looked at trauma as a reason for a loss of this connection and in this context tried to establish an understanding of German history and the Holocaust as an extreme occurence of violence. I am referring to studies from various disciplines including neurobiology, psychology and psychotherapy, sociology, history as well as anthropology to outline the causal connection between trauma and violence and to point towards approaches that have the potential to counter this loss of connection. In this way dignity can be established and preserved, thereby paving a path to peace.
I have published my research as a blog series under the following links:
https://crinklefilms.ie/blog/
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHznNS35kp0y43jxt19xbrw

I would be more than happy to lead one of the Digilogues on Wednesday or Thursday. the title would be:Trauma, loss of dignity and violence in the context of human history: an interdisciplinary perspective

Jeffrey Mensendiek, U.S.A., Kobe, Japan

Dignity for me is like a treasure each person carries and something we want to be respected. Humiliation is used to hurt dignity.

Dear Jeffrey, we are very happy that our dear Donna Hicks inspired you and brought you to us! Welcome!

Hayal Köksal, Istanbul, Turkey

Dignity for me: Carrying the pride and honour of being a wise person and acting accordingly for the benefit of others. Individuals must learn how to be dignified persons in time but if this is realized altogether, with the support of others, the influence will be larger and the speed of success will be higher.

At the 2020 workshop at Columbia University in New York, Hayal described dignity as follows: The quality of being worthy of honor or respect. Being satisfied with self and working to bring sistership/brotherhood to the world people for the sake of happy and healthy future generations.

Dearest Hayal, we will never forget the loving care with which you hosted our 2010 Dignity Conference in Istanbul, Turkey! And then you came to New York City for our 2014 workshop! We are deeply thankful to you!

Thank you so much, dear Hayal, for the "Message to the World" of 2021 (Video | Video recorded on November 4, 2021), and your 2020 "Message to the World" that you recorded on November 28, 2020 (Video)! And thank you for sharing your paper on peace training titled Training Peace-Focused and More Qualified New Generation: Turkey Case, 2019. Congratulations with your 2024 book Catch Your Kids in Time for Education: A practical guide to quality education for future generations!


Kindly click on the images above to see more

Wellington Marinho de Lira, Ph.D., Professor at Federal Rural University of Pernambuco (UFRPE), Goiana, Pernambuco, Brazil [TBC]

Wellington Marinho de Lira is natural of Recife, Pernambuco State, located in the Northeast of Brazil. He is an Applied Linguist and has worked as an Adjunct Professor at the Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco (UFRPE), since 2009. He earned a Ph.D. in Educational Sciences with a specialty in Education in Foreign Languages from the University of Minho in Portugal (2021) and a Master's Degree in Linguistics from the Federal University of Pernambuco (2004). He is a specialist in translation and interpretation in English, a degree earned also from the Federal University of Pernambuco (2004), and a Degree in "Letras" licensed in English Vernacular teaching from the Catholic University of Pernambuco (1997). [read more]

Anne-Grete Bjørlo [TBC]

Anne-Grete Bjørlo hails from Norway and lives now in Spain, together with her husband. She attended the Librarian School in Oslo, Norway (from 1974 to 1978), and has worked as a manager of small local libraries. Towards the end of her career, she was the manager of a local library in Koppang in the Stor-Elvdal Municipality in Norway, where she met her husband through a joint project.
Anne-Grete has also studied orthomolekular medicine (nutrition and health) and rehabilitation at Harstad College, from 2001 to 2003, and between 1998 and 2006, she had her own tourist business in North-Norway, where she was guiding, ran a museum and a cafe and offered bed & breakfast. Her dream to create a small scale Oasis of Peace where writers and peaceworkers can come and recharge their batteries has been put aside due to her husbands detoriating health. He has now only 20% lung capacity left due to a genetic lung disease, uses a wheelchair outdoors most of the time, and has to use extra oxygen. When we saw how difficult life in Norway would be with ice and snow in the winter, we decided to move to Spain. In Spain, we observe that disabled people are around and that they are met with dignity and respect. I have also learned how important it is for me as the main care-taker to also take care of myself. Due to the theme of this conference, I found it interesting to join. Living a good life in spite of it, instead of because of it, this is what we have practised.

Deepak Tripathi, Ph.D., FRHistS, British historian of the Greater Middle East and South Asia, Woking, Surrey County, United Kingdom

Dignity for me: It is only through solidarity and concerted efforts that human dignity to preserve life and make the most of it can be achieved. Dignity is essential for preservation of human life, environment and our existence.

Deepak Tripathi, Ph.D., FRHistS, is a British historian of the Greater Middle East and South Asia with a particular emphasis on the Cold War and the United States in the post-Soviet world. He is a former honorary research fellow in social sciences at the University of Roehampton in London. Among his books is A Journey Through Turbulence (Dignity Press, 2013). ... Earlier, he spent his long career in journalism (1974–1977), primarily in the BBC where he was a correspondent, commentator and editor. In the early 1990s, Tripathi set up the BBC Bureau in Kabul and was the corporation's resident correspondent in Afghanistan. He also reported from Syria, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and India.  [read more]

Congratulations with your new book, dear Deepak!
The Impact of Wars on World Politics, 1775–2023: Hope and Dispair
With a Foreword by Evelin Lindner

Kamolrat Intaratat, Ph.D., Bangkok, Thailand

Kamolrat Intaratat, Ph.D., is the director and founder of the Research Center of Communication and Development Knowledge Management (CCDKM) at the Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University (STOU) in Nonthaburi, in the northern outskirts of Bangkok in Thailand. She is also the Chair of the Communication Arts for ASEAN International Program (Master Degree Program).

Kjell Skyllstad brought Kamolrat Intaratat to our dignity community. She travelled for 42 hours, together with her colleagues Piyachat, from Bangkok to join us in our 2019 Dignity Conference in the Brasilian Amazon.

Martha Eddy, RSMT, CMA, Ed.D., New York City

Dignity for me is internal — I know I have value and purpose, and external — I can dignify others by being caring and curious without judgement.

Dearest Martha, what a gift that Pascal Rocha and Karen Bradley brought you to us in 2010! Thank you for offering a DigniStretch Activity to us on Day Two (Video) and thank you so much for pre-recording also DigniCalm and DigniStretch activities on December 4, 2020!

As introduction, you recommended How to Be Alone...
Thank you for your profound global dignity work: Somatic Resources for Stressful Times | Global Water Dances Mission | Global Water Dances (GWD) YouTube Channel | Global Water Dance: Documentary, 3 minutes | Global Water Dance, 12 minutes

George Livingston, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India

A warm welcome to our workshop, dear George!

Alexander Cheryomukhin, Baku, Azerbaijan

A very warm welcome, dear Alexander! We are glad that our workshop is online this year! Since 2006, travel stood in the way for you to join us in our conferences! WELCOME!

Angelyn Voss, Oregon, U.S.A.

Dignity for me is peace and acceptance of others.
I am greatly interested in promoting human dignity in every aspect of life.

In her registration for our 2022 workshop at Columbia University in New York, Angelyn wrote: "As a teacher and member of society, one must exude respect to all students and individuals. Promoting dignity opens the doors to acceptance, encouragement, peace, learning, and ultimately, love." Angelyn invites everyone to visit her website www.angelynchristyvoss.com. She is happy to donate a book or a piece of artwork if that could help.

Dear Angelyn, it was great to have you with us in our 2018 December Workshop and to honor you! (Video)
Thank you so much for your wonderful support!

Chipamong (Chipa) Chowdhury, or Bhante Revata Dhamma (monk's name, known in the monastic communities), Nomad Eco-Monk, with interest in Nomadic life, Buddhism/Cinema, Pali literature, Religion/Politics/global affairs

When asked, in 2023, 'What does "dignity through solidarity" mean to you?' Bhante Revata always explains, 'It reminds me of the words 'Agitate, educate and organize' by Dr. Ambedkar'.

Thank you so much, dear Bhante, for your most inspiring life as a 'nomad eco-monk'! We remember how you wrote to us in 2008 after you got to know about our work in the United Nations Indigenous Forum, in the Seventh Session Climate change, bio-cultural diversity and livelihoods: The stewardship role of indigenous peoples and new challenges, April 21 – May 2, 2008. Your wish was to participate in our 2008 Norway conference, however, you were ultimately hindered to join us, and we were delighted to have you with us in our 2008 workshop at Columbia University in New York City! From then on you have been a gift of dignity in every single of our workshops, every year! By now, you have grown to be a core member of our dignity nurturing team, and we thank you for being such a gift to the world and to our dignity community!

Thank you so much for initiating and co-editing this important and most touching book, and for writing the Preface:
Human Dignity: Practices, Discourses, and Transformations: Essays on Dignity Studies in Honor of Evelin G. Lindner. Edited by Chipamong Chowdhury, Michael F. Britton, and Linda M. Hartling (Lake Oswego, OR: Dignity Press, 2019)

Thank you also for your many generous and important contributions to our 2021 workshop at Columbia University in New York:
• A Poem — Inner Dignity for Daily Meditation and Reflection shared on Day Two (Video)
• You offered a Bonus Session titled Pandemic, Inner Adventure, and Nomad Mindfulness! on Day Two of the workshop (Video)
• You contributed to Dignilogue 5 on Day Three with Buddhism Activism Democracy in Myanmar (Video)
• At the end of the workshop, you introduced your friends (Video)

You also contributed richly to the 2020 workshop at Columbia University in New York:
• Bhante Revata Dhamma: The Nomad Monk (Videos recorded in 2020, brought together by Linda Hartling on December 3, 2020)

Dagmar Kusa, Bratislava International School of Liberal Arts, Slovakia

Dignity means responsibility towards humanity in self and in the other. I am interested in the restoration of dignity in communities after war, and in polarised societies.

Dagmar Kusá received her MA in political science from Comenius University her PhD. in political science from Boston University.

A very warm welcome to our conference, dear Dagmar! We are very happy to have you with us!

Jean-Damascène Gasanabo, New York City, Kigali, Rwanda

Message from Evelin Lindner: How wonderful it was to have you with us in our dignity community, dear Damas! Thank you so much for always sharing your deeply touching and extremely valuable experiences with us! Professor Pierre Dasen introduced us in Geneva in 1999, and we have kept in touch since. You kindly attended our 2005 Dignity Conference in Berlin and contributed with an important foundational talk to our 2015 Dignity Conference in Kigali.

Jean-Damascène Gasanabo (Damas) has a Ph.D. in Education from the University of Geneva, Switzerland (2004). His thesis pertained to the analysis of history textbooks and the construction of exclusive identities in Rwanda from 1962 to 1994. After his studies, Damas worked with UNESCO in Paris as Consultant in Education Sector for the project Fostering Peaceful Co-Existence through Analysis and Revision of History Curricula and School Textbooks in South-Eastern Europe (2005–2006). He has also collaborated as Programme Specialist for The United Nations Secretary-General’s Study on Violence against Children (2006). From 2012 until 2021, Damas wored in Rwanda and is now an independent consultant. [read more]

David Jones, Portland, Oregon, U.S.A.

Dignity is an innate sense of value of people. Humiliation is the violation of the sense of dignity that people are subject to. I see a need for recovery and healing.

David A. Jones is a professional therapist and conflict resolution practioneer, and Director of Siloam International. The purpose of Siloam International is to provide culturally based programs in the area of conflict resolution for domestic and international interventions that are comprehensive in scope, utilizing the most current and effective information, methodology, and practices available.
David A. Jones specializes in substance abuse counseling and public health education. He also conducts trauma healing dialogues for posttraumatic stress stemming from violent conflict. He teaches human rights internationally and has lectured at Portland State University. David also works with young people, and adult's transitioning from prison back to the community. David and his clients follow the sentient path to track problems to the core of the individuals' process. David's work is informed by studies in Alternative Dispute Process Handling and Process Oriented Psychology developed by Arnold Mindell for dealing with large group conflic, in which he holds a Master Degree. TDavid has an undergraduate degree in Cross-Cultural-Communication, and has a two-year certificate in Public Health Studies in the area of alcohol and drug counseling. He has been practicing for over 15 years internationally in numerous capacities for local nonprofits, private parties and governmental groups.
His contribution to the 2007 Workshop on Transforming Humiliation and Violent Conflict at Columbia University in New York was entitled: Shock and Awe — The impact of working with highly traumatized groups while conducting field work: Utter & Complete Disaster (2007)

Dilshad S, New Delhi, India

Dignity is a fundamental concept from which I think our personal and social values can be built around. I have been working on dignity and its relevance in development studies for more than a year now.

Dilshad is part of the Dignity Initiative team, which aims to build tools, advice, and new research encouraging global development to uphold the dignity of the people it seeks to serve. Previously Dilshad supported the Punjab Learning Partnership team by setting up the partnership and leading the workstreams under it. Prior to IDinsight, Dilshad was a core team member with Udhyam Learning Foundation and worked in designing various urban livelihood projects. Dilshad earned his Master’s in Physics from NIT Rourkela.

A very warm welcome to our conference, dear Dilshad! We are very happy to have you with us!

Fonkem, Michael Fonkem Achankeng I, Appleton, Wisconsin, U.S.A., and Ruler of Atoabechied in the former British Southern Cameroons

Dignity for me means working together for the dignity of all. It means recognising the worth of every being.

Dear Fonkem, we are in awe at the scope of your dignifying service in this world!
Thank you for making it possible for us to understand the difficult situation in former British Southern Cameroon:

• Achankeng, Fonkem (2013). "Conflict and Conflict Resolution in Africa: Engaging the Colonial Factor." In African Journal on Conflict Resolution, 13 (2), pp. 11–37.

• A summary of the situation in Cameroon: Cameroon Burning: The Unseen War, full documentary, BBC Africa Eye, June 25, 2018, "Hundreds of shocking mobile phone videos from Cameroon have surfaced in the past six months. They are coming from the English speaking part of the country, where rebels are fighting to form an independent state called "Ambazonia". BBC Africa Eye have analysed these films, shedding fresh light on who is responsible for the violence."

Ibrahim Muhammad Babangida, Niger State, Nigeria

Dignity to me means basic respect while humiliation means disrespect. I see the sanctity of Human Dignity. I'm glad to participate in this community.

Ibrahim Muhammad Babangida, Nigerian Bar Association NBA, is the Chairman/CEO of Online Dispute Resolution and Services in Niger State, Nigeria. He seeks dignity through conflict transformation and social justice.

A very warm welcome to our conference, dear Ibrahim! We are very happy to have you with us!

Ibrahim S Bangura, Western Area Freetown, Sierra Leone

Dignity to me means respecting every living being, while humiliation is about looking down on others due to factors like age, poverty. I am committed to child protection and human dignity, aligning with the event's focus on addressing global vulnerabilities. I would love to discuss how I can share the work I'm doing with the Future Leaders Initiative SL and explore potential collaboration opportunities with your organisation.

Ibrahim S Bangura is the founder and CEO of Future Leaders Initiative SL, an organisation driven by a heartfelt mission to end violence against children, women, and girls across Sierra Leone, through advocacy, media and technology. Ibrahim S Bangura is a survivor of corporal punishment and other forms of violence. The journey is Future Leaders Initiative SL is rooted in a deeply personal commitment to ensure the welfare, survival, and flourishing of every vulnerable child.

A very warm welcome to our conference for the first time, dear Ibrahim! We are very happy that our dear Lucien Lombardo introduced you and to have you with us!

Jingyi Dong, Ph.D., Norway

Dignity for me is equal value for all human beings. I am interested in the new construction of ideas that enhance human dignity. Structure, as well as passion, is indispensable for us to enhance human dignity.

Jingyi is a researcher in Educational Sociology, affiliated to the Department of Education of the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), Trondheim, Norway. She focuses on equal opportunities in the process of higher education. She received her Ph.D. degree from NTNU in 2015. Her focus was on the life and study of rural students as a disadvantaged social group on the campuses of Chinese universities. Her interest also extended to the background of these rural students, such as the situation of peasants and of intellectuals on the university campuses in China. Earlier, she received her M. Phil in Higher Education from the University of Oslo. Her thesis was on equal opportunities to access higher education. She received her M.A in North American Studies from the same university. Her thesis was on diversity in higher education. At the level of undergraduate education, she received her B.A in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages from Hebei Normal University, China. Her thesis endeavored to uncover that people from different countries share more than they differ from each other.

Joy Ndwandwe, Eswatini (former Swaziland)

Dignity for me means restoring dignity within African historical legacies and indigenous foods systemically negated by humiliation. I am interested in global vulnerabilities with regards to silenced royal historical legacies of African and its Diaspora, including indigenous food. Its time to reflect on whether we can discuss global vulnerabilities when humiliated in history books and indigenous foods systemically negated.

In 2023: Dignity through solidarity means the need for advocacy that enables the proposed advocacy for the second liberation through natural rights embedded within indigenous knowledge. Thus, solidary in advancing this second liberation as indigenous knowledge was historical and continues to be systemically negated, manifesting in the eroding of dignity manifesting in conflicts, humiliation and dehumanization.

Welcome to our conference, dearest Joy! What a privilege to have you in our global dignity community!

Joy is a member of the World Dignity University, as the Founding President of the Indigenous Knowledge Hub in Eswatini that was founded in March 2020 as an NGO under the Swaziland Companies Act No. 8 of 2009. This hub is an academic space for policy makers and researchers for preserving and integrating indigenous knowledge and modernity towards Education for Sustainable Development and the Africa We Want.
The Indigenous Knowledge Hub is a Dignity Institute, following Joy's interest in advancing dignity embedded within indigenous knowledge towards Education for Sustainable Development. Most importantly, having access to leading dignity scholars is important, who will provide technical expertise in the establishing of the hub and strategic interventions as and when the need arises.
In 2024, Joy has been nominated and appointed Dean of the Royal Faculty on Historical Legacy with the University of the State of African Diaspora.
Joy lives by the following principles: Confidence, Dignity, and Contentment.

Thank you so much for contributing to Dignilogue 1 in our workshop at Columbia University in New York with presenting your Indigenous Knowledge Hub, dear Joy! Abantu Eswatini Dignity InstituteIndigenous Knowledge Hub: Dignity Through Solidarity: Towards a New Global Normal, presentation by Joy Ndwandwe, Founding President (Video | Video recorded on November 17, 2021 | PowerPoint). Thank you also for sharing the 2019 podcast of your story! Please join also Dignilogue 4 hosted by David Yamada on the World Dignity University initiative! Thank you also for sharing

Thank you so much for explaining the ubuntu philosophy so well in 2013!
• Video Ubuntu Open Space Dignilogue session, 25th April 2013 (unfortunately, reduced video quality), created at the the 21st Annual Conference of Human Dignity and Humiliation Studies, 24th-27th April 2013, in Stellenbosch, South Africa.
• Video Ubuntu, summary by Joy Ndwandwe, 26th April 2013, created at the 21st Annual Conference of Human Dignity and Humiliation Studies, 24th-27th April 2013, in Stellenbosch, South Africa.

María Cristina Azcona, Ph.D., Buenos Aires, Argentina

For me, dignity and humilliation are both opposite sides of the same coin. I am interested to discuss new horizons on human dignity.

2023: Dignity is the right to deserve respect from others and regarding social groups, it means respect to human rights. In the sense of children, it means respect to their bodies and not only their souls.

María Cristina Azcona is an Argentina Psychopedagogist, family counselor, and bilingual writer and poet.

Dear María, so good that our Ada Aharoni brought you to us in 2005! All your life you have generously woven global dignity networks! Thank you!

Thank you for sharing the Mission of the Worldwide Peace Organization (English and Spanish) at our 2021 workshop at Columbia University in New York, dear María!
See also:
• Education for a New Millennium, Buenos Aires, Argentina, 2018
• The Education of Morality for Parents and Children, Buenos Aires, Argentina, October 10, 2020

Thank you for sharing earlier:
• Dignity and Humiliation in Argentina, a paper written by María for HumanDHS in 2005

Michael Boyer, Hameln (Hamelin), Germany

Dignity for me is making the world a better place incrementally every day.
2023: Solidarity with your fellows should prerequisite dignified relations.

Dignity (2020): "Dignism!"

Thank you, dear Michael, for your amazing Dignity Anthem that you created in November 2022!
• the anthem as part of the Introduction to the 2022 Workshop on Transforming Humiliation and Violent Conflict
• the anthem alone with big subtitles
• the anthem alone with with small subtitles
• the anthem alone without subtitles
• the text of the anthem

Thank you, dear Michael, for your loving support for dignity and your amazing work with our DignityNowHameln group! Thank you for your Digniworld initiative that you created in 2019 (Video): Digniworld WordPress | Digniworld Facebook | Digniworld Twitter | Digniworld Instagram | World Dignity Movement (on YouTube)

All these lovely contributions to our 2021 workshop from Hameln came true due to your untiring support:
• Dignity Now: Hameln Removes Plastic Waste from the Banks of its River Weser (World Dignity Movement channel | HumanDHS channel, recorded in September 2021, finalized on November 25, 2021)
• The Dignity Now Hameln Group sings Dona Nobis Pacem ("Grant Us Peace" in Latin) in the Chapel of Wangelist near Hameln (Hamelin) on November 8, 2021
Dear Michael, thank you for devising a lovely "script" for the introduction of the Hameln group during Dignilogue 5 of our workshop: Evelin describes the Group > Evelin to Michael > Michael to Regina > Regina to Andrea > Film - BUND Plastic Action > Andrea to Georg > Georg to Claudia > Claudia to Gisela > Gisela to Dorothee > Dorothee to Andreas > back to Evelin greeting Zuzana Lučkay Mihalčinová > Dona Nobis Pacem.

Thank you also for your wonderful contributions to our 2020 workshop:
• Dignity Now: Hameln Presents Good Ideas from the Past and the Future for a More Sustainable Future. Thoughts Are Unchained (World Dignity Movement channel | HumanDHS channel, recorded in October and November 2020, finalized on November 21, 2020)
This is the contribution of the DignityNowHameln group that was recorded in October and November 2020, and finalized on November 21, 2020 (World Dignity Movement channel | HumanDHS channel)
See more in detail:
• 01 Marienhof (World Dignity Movement channel | HumanDHS channel)
• 02 Unverpackt Laden (World Dignity Movement channel | HumanDHS channel)
• 03 Song Die Gedanken sind Frei / Thoughts are Unchained (World Dignity Movement channel | HumanDHS channel)
• Dear Michael, thank you also for your wonderful vocal interlude! (Video at the end)
• Hameln Sings (all vocal interludes brought together) (Video)

Petra Kleindienst, Ph.D., Associate Professor and Vice-dean for Student and Academic Affairs at School of Advanced Social Studies in Nova Gorica, Slovenia

Petra Kleindienst is Associate Professor and Vice-dean for Student and Academic Affairs at School of Advanced Social Studies in Nova Gorica, Slovenia. In 2020, she gained a postdoctoral fellowship with a project titled Strengthening Democratic State Governed by the Rule of L aw through Realization of Human Dignity in Judicial Procedures from the Slovenian Research Agency. In 2018, she obtained her Ph.D. degree in sociology with a thesis titled The Role of Educational System for the Development of Democratic Political Culture. In 2014, she finished the post-graduate programme of law at the European Faculty of Law with a thesis titled: Human Dignity as a Base of the Democratic System. She has been a trainee at the General Secretariat of the Republic of Slovenia and Center for Social Work. She has gained comprehensive knowledge of the institutional framework of the European Union and the historical development of European integration and case-law of the European Union. In 2011, she obtained the Jean Monnet Module Certificate.
Petra has published a number of quality scientific papers in the field of law and sociology. On the research level, her focus is on the topics of human dignity, political culture and educational system. She is participating in national, bilateral and international research projects as well as international scientific conferences.

Peter Barus, Jacksonville, Whitingham, Vermont, U.S.A.

When asked, in 2023, 'What does "dignity through solidarity" mean to you?' Peter responded by saying, 'Connection. Being 'out here' with you'.

At the 2020 workshop, Peter described dignity as 'a question in which to live'.

Message from Evelin Lindner: We are so glad, dear Peter, that our dear Howard Richards brought you to our global dignity community in 2019! And that you drove all the way from Vermont to be with us in our 2023 workshop at Columbia University in New York was more than we could imagine! Thank you!!!

Thank you so much for sharing your reflections during the coffee break of Day Three of our 2021 workshop at Columbia University in New York that took place online due to the Coronavirus pandemic (Video) and for sharing more thoughts at the end of that workshop (Video)!

Thank you also very much for your touching and profound Message to the World in 2020!

Refried Bean, Bronx, New York City

Dignity for me means being protected from bullying. I am interested in prevention of media humiliation.

Refried Bean lives in the Bronx and enjoys writing poetry, cooking, and volunteering. She has worked in a bookstore for twelve years and has an MFA in Writing from Vermont College of Fine Arts. She mostly writes humor about food, animals, heaven, Christianity, and mental illness and has e-published several books of poetry, a book of stories, a novel, and three picture books.

Message from Evelin Lindner: A very warm welcome to our conference, dear Refried! We are very happy to have you with us! It was great to have you with us in our 2023 Workshop on Transforming Humiliation and Violent Conflict at Columbia University in New York!

Sahondra Kiplagat, Ph.D., Lecturer at the Department of Psychology, University of Nairobi, Kenya

Dignity for me is mutual respect. My research interests are climate change and universal plan design

Dr. Sahondra Chebet Kiplagat is a lecturer in the Department of Psychology at the University of Nairobi, Kenya. She holds a Ph.D. in Environmental Psychology from the University of Surrey, as well as a Master of Science (MSc) in Environmental Psychology from the same institution.
Dr. Kiplagat is notable for being the only environmental psychologist in Kenya. Her expertise in this field makes her a unique asset to the University of Nairobi's psychology department, which boasts faculty members from diverse specialties including social, health, counselling, clinical, forensic, special, and psychometrics.
At the University of Nairobi, Dr. Kiplagat contributes to various academic programs offered by the Department of Psychology, which include diploma, bachelor's, master's, and PhD levels. Her official email at the university is sahondra@uonbi.ac.ke[2].
Dr. Kiplagat's background in environmental psychology aligns with the department's goal of making psychology more practical and relevant to society in Kenya. Her presence in the faculty contributes to the diverse expertise that allows the department to offer a wide range of specializations in its graduate programs, including health, organizational, social, forensic, and community psychology.

Message from Evelin Lindner: Dear Sahondra, it was great to meet you through Gay Rosenblum-Kumar during a Brown Bag Lunch Discussion by Frank Bierens titled 'Made in Africa TV: Media for Citizen Engagement' on 5th November 2013! A Very warm welcome to our conference for the first time! We are very glad to have you with us!

Takis Ioannides Panagiotis, Athens, Greece

Dignity for me is the highest level of human's life values. I name myself conciously as 'a student of this life and citizen of Planet Earth'.

When asked in 2023, 'What does "dignity through solidarity" mean to you?' Takis explained, 'Ιf the city is good as a whole, it benefits the citizens more than if everyone is happy individually and the city is shaken as a whole, because even if the person is happy individually, he is nevertheless destroyed together with his homeland if it is destroyed. Thucydides'.

Dr. Panagiotis (Takis) D. Ioannides was born in Athens on 15th April 1955. He has studied in Greece, France, Belgium and Holland, and he is a poet, writer, researcher, lecturer, literature critic, philosopher, and painter with the Honorary Degree of Dr of Literature by HWAAC-vise for diploma no 358. He has been a researcher of Greek Philospophy for the past 30 years and holds lectures, having written hundreds of poems, 9 books and more than 300 essays. His books and poems are registered in the Greek National Library of Greece in Athens. He has been presenting his poetic and philospophic works on the national radio station and on other radio stations for the past 20 years, daily for free. Poems and books by him have been awarded with prizes in Greece and many other countries. He donates his paintings in bazaars of Athens for children with special health problems, such as AIDs, or mental mind problems. He publishes his poems, essays, articles (philosophical, social, historical, scientific), and interviews with spiritual persons of our planet Earth via the newspaper EPIKAIRA of New Smyrna in Athens, the Arcadians and other foreign magazines. His poems and interviews have been introduced via TV, radio stations, and magazines in Greece and Cyprus for 20 years by now. In 2009 the Greek Parliament chose his poem 'For the child' for the global day of children. He is also a creator of a blood bank in Athens.
He has been registered in the Who Is Who of Greece (5th edition 2010) and in the Greek Encyclopedia of Greek Poets and Literates, edited by Harry Patsi. He is a member of the Arcadians. He is, furthermore, the former vice president and member of the International Society of Greek Writers and Arts (DEEL), as well as the former vice president of Lefkohori Arcadia [read more]

Message from Evelin Lindner: We are so grateful, dear Takis, for your dignifying support, since 2011! So lovely to have you with us in our conference, welcome!

Tambay Mansaray, Saint James College, Sierra Leone

Dignity typically denotes the attribute of deserving respect. It encompasses the act of showing respect to oneself and others. The topic interest me because it will provide me with more knowledge on how to create respectful and decent society for all. As the founder of a school for disadvantaged youth in Sierra Leone, I understand the significance of dignity in supporting vulnerable individuals. We provide post seconday school education to underprivilede youths.

Saint James College in Lungi, Northern Sierra Leone is an educational institution located in Robis Lungi, Port-Loko District, in the Northern region of Sierra Leone. The college aims to provide a supportive learning environment for its students.
Saint James College offers various educational services, including courses designed for individuals who are new to the field of education and lack formal qualifications.
The college maintains an online presence through its website and LinkedIn profile, which allows it to share updates, news, and job opportunities with its community. Additionally, Saint James College values cultural preservation and heritage, as evidenced by their social media posts encouraging the preservation of traditions inherited from ancestors. The college has a staff directory for those seeking to connect with specific employees or departments within the institution.

Tamer Tolba, Ph.D., Egypt, Hamburg, Germany

Dignity and humiliation, to me, reflect the two ends of the value of humanity. In my opinion, 'disability' is an expression that refers to specific medical mental or physical condition of the body that prevents the person from doing certain things. I personally find words like 'special needs' to be more 'dignifying'. I am eager to learn more on how to be able to preserve dignity in society, especially for those with special needs.

Dr. Tamer Tolba is a physicist and a Professor of Physics at the Institute for Experimental Physics of the University of Hamburg (UHH) in Hamburg, Germany. He is the Chair of the Dissemination and Exploitation Board of the ESSnuSB+ project, the principal investigator and country representative of Germany for the ESSnuSB and ESSnuSB+ projects, and was the representative from Germany to the European Cooperation in Science and Technology (COST), action CA15139.

Message from Evelin Lindner: Dear Tamer, what a gift you are to our global dignity community! I am so glad that we were introduced in fall 2023! You combine sharp scientific analysis with loving care in the most unique and invaluable ways! Thank you!