Belgium · 60th anniversary of human rights

Issue date12 Jun 2008

Total mintage5,018,000

EU maximum5,000,000

Editions3

Edge lettering2 ★ ★ × 6, alternating upright/inverted

Inscription2008 / UNIVERSAL DECLARATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS / BELGIE / BELGIQUE / BELGIEN

DesignerLuc Luycx

mintKoninklijke Munt van Belgie, Brussel

Issue occasion

The coin commemorates the 60th anniversary of the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The design shows a rectangle with the engraved number 60, from which wavy lines partially encircling it extend. Above it is the year 2008, below it “UNIVERSAL DECLARATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS”; along the lower edge, the designations “BELGIE — BELGIQUE — BELGIEN” are arranged in a semicircle.

The design

The inner part of the coin features a rectangle engraved with the number 60. Wavy lines radiate from the rectangle, partially encircling it. Above the rectangle is the year 2008, and below it is “UNIVERSAL DECLARATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS”. Along the lower edge of the coin’s inner part, the designations of the issuing country in the three national languages — “BELGIE — BELGIQUE — BELGIEN” — are arranged in a semicircle, with the mint mark and the engraver’s mark to the left and right, respectively.
The twelve stars of the European flag are depicted on the coin’s outer ring.

Background on the topic

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (Allgemeine Erklärung der Menschenrechte) was created in response to the experiences of the Second World War, the National Socialist policy of persecution and extermination, as well as the mass displacement and disenfranchisement of people. Following the founding of the United Nations (Vereinte Nationen) in 1945, a common standard was to be formulated defining which rights are due to every person regardless of origin, nationality, gender, religion or political convictions.

The text was drafted by the United Nations Commission on Human Rights (Menschenrechtskommission der Vereinten Nationen). It was chaired by Eleanor Roosevelt, the widow of US President Franklin D. Roosevelt. Representatives of different states, legal traditions and philosophical schools took part in the consultations. The UN General Assembly adopted the declaration on 10 December 1948 in Paris as Resolution 217 A (III). Of the member states voting at the time, 48 voted in favor; there were no votes against. Belgien was among the states that voted in favor.

The declaration comprises 30 articles. Among other things, it sets out the right to life, liberty and security, the prohibition of slavery and torture, equality before the law, freedom of expression, religion and assembly, as well as rights to work, education and social security. It thus combines civil and political rights with economic, social and cultural rights.

As a declaration, it is not itself an international treaty and initially did not establish any directly enforceable obligations. However, it influenced subsequent human rights agreements, national constitutions and the work of international organizations. The binding UN treaties that emerged from it include the two International Covenants adopted in 1966: the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (Internationaler Pakt über bürgerliche und politische Rechte) and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (Internationaler Pakt über wirtschaftliche, soziale und kulturelle Rechte).

The anniversary gave Belgien an opportunity to commemorate this international point of reference. Since 1950, 10 December has been observed as Human Rights Day. The coin issue was thus connected with a commemorative year recognized worldwide.