Time to define human dignity

The concept of human dignity and its centrality in both theological and legal canons was the main focus of the oration speech by University don Kevin Aquilina.

Prof. Aquilina, head of the Media Department, said there was no passage in the Bible or in the Church's Magisterium that explicitly defined the expression "human dignity".

Indeed, the Church did not define human dignity except in an indirect manner. The same could be said with regard to law.

"Our Constitution does not use this concept let alone define it. While the notion of respect for human dignity is used in various laws - national, regional and international - the concept nevertheless remains largely undefined," he said.

This was perhaps because human dignity had in time been considered more of a theological and philosophical term and it appeared it was only after World War II that it began to gain legal recognition and status.

He suggested the time had come to develop a clear and comprehensive definition of the term that would attract consensus at a national, regional and international level. Such a concept and definition should be included in the island's fundamental law; the Constitution of Malta.

The graduates

Master of Arts in Theology
Sponsor: Rev. Prof. E. Agius
Alexandra Agius, Nazzareno Azzopardi, Jason Briffa, Antonia Bugeja, John Buttigieg, Carmen Camilleri, Mario George Cassar, Nicolina Farrugia, M'louise Laferla, Monica Muscat, Edward Wright, Carmel Zammit and Ewkarist Zammit.

Licentiate in Sacred Theology
Sponsor: Rev. Prof. E. Agius
Jonathan Farrugia*, Josef Mifsud and Kevin Schembri.

Magister Juris in European and Comparative Law
Sponsor: Prof. I. Refalo
Kathleen Attard, Emanuel Bezzina, James D'Agostino, Joshua Grech, Sarah Jane Meli, Claude Micallef-Grimaud and Anna Maria Mifsud.

Master of Arts in Financial Services
Sponsor: Prof. I. Refalo
Ramona Marie Azzopardi*, Leonard Caruana, Gianluca Caruana Curran, Adam de Domenico, Mariosa Galea, David Gonzi, Louella Grech, Isabella Grixti, Melanie Miceli Demajo, Priscilla Mifsud Parker, Christine Pace and Ray Vassallo.

Master of Arts in Law
Sponsor: Prof. I. Refalo
Saviour Aquilina, Neville Galea Roberts* and Sarah Grima.

Doctor of Laws
Sponsor: Prof. I. Refalo
Johnaton Abela, Nicola Abela, Susann Agius, Adrian Attard, Sharon Azzopardi, Maria Baldacchino, Ruth Baldacchino, Francis Basile Cherubino, Samuel Bezzina, Matthew Bondin, Astrid Jo Bonnici, Andrea Borg, Anton Borg, Joette Borg, Sylvana Borg, Yanica Borg, Lisa Marie Brooke, Maria Kristina Buckle, Ann-Marie Bugeja, Yanika Bugeja, Ayrton Buhagiar, Robert Buttigieg, Keith Ryan Calleja, Krista Calleja Mercieca, Maria Concetta Cardona, Annalise Caruana, Charles Cassar, Daniela Cassar, Kezia Cassar, Stefania Rosette Cassar, Jeanette Ciantar*, Fiona Cilia, Nicholas Curmi, François Dalli, Anton D'amato, Henri Darmanin, Jonathan De Maria, Jonathan Degiovanni, Antonio Depasquale, Philip Ellul, Elaine Farrugia, Clayton Fenech, Kelly Dominic Fenech, Nadya Fiott, Francesca Galea, Robert Galea, Corinne Marie Gatt, Daniela Gauci, Jean Pierre Gauci, Austin Gauci Maistre, Robert Gauci Maistre, James Grech, Stephanie Grech, Kathleen Grima, Mark Hyzler, Michael Laferla, Alessandro Lia, Emaliese Lofaro, Christian Magri, Diane Magro, Nicola Magro, Alison Mallia Borg, Claire Mamo, Alexander Mangion, Ann Marie Mangion, Josef Christian Masini Vento, Deborah Mercieca, Liana Micallef, Maria Paloma Micallef, Anton John Mifsud, Patricia Mifsud, Matthew Muscat, Nadia Muscat, Rachel Muscat, Ramon Navarro, Caroline Pace, James Pace, Lara Pace, Petr Pechar, Mauro Noel Portelli, Simon Pullicino, Patrick Quintano, Matthew Saliba, Nicole' Ann Saliba, Francesca Sansone, Juliana Scerri Ferrante, Alistair Schembri, Jan Schembri*, Nikita Scicluna, Sarah Jane Scicluna, John Seychell Navarro, Michela Spiteri Debono, Ivan Tabone, Marita Tabone, Nathania Tabone, Jonathan Taylor-East, Marcelle Troisi, Rachel Tua Fenech Adami, Sarah Tua Fenech Adami, Mark Vassallo, Matthew Xerri, Simon Xuereb, Mark Zaffarese, Joseph Zammit, Veronica Zammit and Karen Zammit Southernwood.

Doctor of Sacred Theology
Sponsor: Rev. Prof. E. Agius
Raymond Francalanza and Martin Micallef.

* in absentia