To give something dignity is to give it value, to make it seem important.

But value and importance are not synonyms. They are complementary concepts. Value is a noun that indicates worth; some things have intrinsic value and for other things, their value is only given by others, extrinsically. A diamond may be valuable because it can be sold for a lot of money or because it is meaningful for the person who owns it. An idea can be a valuable contribution to a conversation. And you can value someone’s opinion. Either way, the thing is deemed to have worth that should be recognized and protected.