In the early days of the UN, human rights was one of the most pressing issues. After the UN Commission on Human Rights was established, the international community began to draft the UDHR. By exploring UN archives, this paper finds that during that process, Pengchun Chang (P. C. Chang), the Chinese representative, drew heavily on his view that human dignity was the raison d’être of human rights, and as a consequence recognition of the importance of human dignity was a key element in the UDHR eventually adopted. I conclude that Chang was skilled in his advocacy of the recognition of human dignity as he persuaded people to reach a consensus on human rights standards, providing a common standard for all peoples and all nations. This paper will mainly ask: What was the role of human dignity in P. C. Chang’s idea on human rights? What role can we say human dignity played? How did the UDHR treat the issue of human dignity?

This article proposes the principle of human dignity as an indispensable requirement for sustainable regional economic integration, especially in East Asia. The contribution of free trade to economic growth and development is widely acknowledged. The economic survival of workers and farmers lacking international competitiveness has been, however, endangered, because of the expansion of trade liberalization and investment based on economic integration. Economic integration that ensures human dignity will promote successful and sustainable regional economic integration, by balancing economic prosperity and social integration. In this context, this article reviews the value and concept of human dignity as a goal and principle for regional economic integration. The author contends that neither sustainable prosperity nor a high level of economic development is itself a goal of economic integration, but merely a means by which to improve human dignity. Economic integration should, therefore, serve not only to maintain sustainable prosperity, but also to maximize human dignity.