1951, December 10. Declaration of Human Rights
Engraved. American Bank Note Company, Perf. 12.
Singles, Sheets of 100
5c Statue of Liberty - Singles (5,000,000)
6c Statue of Liberty - Singles (500,000)
18c Statue of Liberty - Singles (500,000)
Design. Depicts the story of man`s struggle for freedom since time immemorial - men of different races engaged in the struggle steadily marching towards the goddess of Liberty holding the symbol of justice on her right hand over which the dove of peace hovers low and trailing the scent emitted by the lighted torch of freedom held on her outstretched left arm over which hang the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
First Day Covers: Manila
HUMAN DECLARATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which was adopted by the UN General Assembly on 10 December 1948, was the result of the experience of the Second World War. With the end of that war, and the creation of the United Nations, the international community vowed never again to allow atrocities like those of that conflict happen again. World leaders decided to complement the UN Charter with a road map to guarantee the rights of every individual everywhere. The document they considered, and which would later become the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, was taken up at the first session of the General Assembly in 1946. The Assembly reviewed this draft Declaration on Fundamental Human Rights and Freedoms and transmitted it to the Economic and Social Council "for reference to the Commission on Human Rights for consideration . . . in its preparation of an international bill of rights." The Commission, at its first session early in 1947, authorized its members to formulate what it termed "a preliminary draft International Bill of Human Rights". Later the work was taken over by a formal drafting committee, consisting of members of the Commission from eight States, selected with due regard for geographical distribution
The Commission on Human Rights was made up of 18 members from various political, cultural and religious backgrounds. Eleanor Roosevelt, widow of American President Franklin D. Roosevelt, chaired the UDHR drafting committee. With her were René Cassin of France, who composed the first draft of the Declaration, the Committee Rapporteur Charles Malik of Lebanon, Vice-Chairman Peng Chung Chang of China, and John Humphrey of Canada, Director of the UN’s Human Rights Division, who prepared the Declaration’s blueprint. But Mrs. Roosevelt was recognized as the driving force for the Declaration’s adoption. The Commission met for the first time in 1947.
-
United Nations