Finland · 60th anniversary of human rights

Issue date1 Oct 2008

Total mintage1,500,000

EU maximum1,500,000

Editions6

Edge letteringSUOMI FINLAND + 3 lion heads

InscriptionHuman Rights / 2008 / FI / K

DesignerTapio Kettunen

mintSuomen Rahapaja OY, Vantaa, Finnland

Issue occasion

The commemorative coin commemorates the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (Allgemeine Erklärung der Menschenrechte). The design shows a human figure through a heart-shaped opening in a stone wall; the words “Human Rights” appear on either side of the lower part of the heart. The year 2008 is shown above, while “FI”, the initial “K” of the artist Tapio Kettunen and the mintmark appear along the lower edge.

The design

The inner part of the coin shows a human figure seen through a heart-shaped opening in a stone wall. The words “Human Rights” are embossed on both sides of the lower part of the heart. The year 2008 is engraved above the heart. The indication of the issuing state, “FI”, the letter “K” (the initial of the artist Tapio Kettunen), and the mintmark appear along the lower edge of the design. 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 adopted in Paris on 10 December 1948 by the General Assembly of the United Nations (Generalversammlung der Vereinten Nationen). It emerged against the backdrop of the Second World War (Zweiter Weltkrieg), the National Socialist policy of persecution and extermination, and the displacement and deprivation of rights of millions of people. The newly founded United Nations sought to formulate principles that would apply to all people regardless of origin, gender, language, religion or political conviction.

An international human rights commission participated in its drafting. It was chaired by Eleanor Roosevelt, former First Lady of the United States. Other figures involved included the French jurist René Cassin, the Chinese diplomat and philosopher Peng-chun Chang, and the Lebanese diplomat Charles Malik. The text comprises 30 articles. Among other things, they address the right to life and personal liberty, the prohibition of slavery and torture, equality before the law, freedom of opinion and religion, and political, economic, social and cultural rights.

The Declaration is not a treaty under international law and initially created no directly enforceable obligations. However, it became a point of reference for later constitutions and international agreements. These include 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 European human rights system (europäische Menschenrechtsordnung) also developed within this historical and political context.

No specific historical person is depicted on the coin. The human figure generally represents the individual as the bearer of inalienable rights. The wall can be understood as a symbol of exclusion, oppression or obstacles to the realization of these rights; the opening refers to protection and access.

The choice of the occasion was linked to an anniversary commemorated worldwide. For Finland, it also provided an opportunity to make visible its membership of the human rights system based on the United Nations and European institutions. Finland has been a member of the United Nations since 1955.