Date of Issue : 9 June 2011
German Post issued a postage stamp on 9th June 2011 to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Amnesty International organization.
Amnesty International (commonly known as Amnesty and AI) is an international non-governmental organization whose stated mission is "to conduct research and generate action to prevent and end grave abuses of human rights, and to demand justice for those whose rights have been violated."
Following a publication of Peter Benenson's article "The Forgotten Prisoners" in The Observer 28 May 1961, Amnesty was founded in London the same year. Amnesty draws attention to human rights abuses and campaigns for compliance with international laws and standards. It works to mobilize public opinion to put pressure on governments that let abuse take place. The organization was awarded the 1977 Nobel Peace Prize for its "campaign against torture" and the United Nations Prize in the Field of Human Rights in 1978.
Norway and Luxembourg Post have also issued this year commemorative stamps on 50 years of Amnesty International.
Norway
Date of Issue : 15 April 2011
Luxembourg
Date of Issue : 15 March 2011
On March 15th 2011, the Luxembourg Posts and Telecommunications issues: A special postage stamp ( Actual price of the stamp : 0,60 €) - European Year of Volunteering.
50 years of Amnesty International
European Year of Volunteering aims in a general way to encourage and support, particularly through an exchange of experiences and good practices, the efforts achieved by Member States, regional and local authorities as well as civilians to create favourable conditions for volunteering in the European Union and to increase the visibility of activities in a broad range of volunteering activities.
The European Year has the following objectives:
- 1. To work to put in place a favourable framework for volunteering in the European Union.
- 2. To provide the means for voluntary organisations to act and improve the quality of volunteers.
- 3. To reward and recognise the activities of volunteers.
- 4. To increase public awareness of the value and importance of volunteering.
