Intern. Year of the child - Austria / II. Republic of Austria 1979 - 2.50 Shilling

The twentieth century was declared in its beginnings as the "century of the child". New findings in developmental psychology have led to the child not being considered as a future adult, but as an individual requiring special attention, specific treatment and care. The "League of Nations", the predecessor of the United Nations, affirmed this in 1924 by the Geneva Declaration on the Rights of the Child. However, two world wars that brought unnamed harm to children had to go beyond humanity before concern for the well-being of children became a paramount commitment to social consciousness. Only in the second half of the century, when the situation of the children began to become catastrophic, especially in the countries of the "Third World", the first steps towards effective remediation were taken on a world scale. The General Assembly of the United Nations of November 20, 1959, issued the "Magna Charta" of the child, with which the child in future special rights and special protection should be secured. However, as in the following years it became clear that the implementation of these principles was causing considerable difficulties in some countries, the United Nations Economic and Social Council decided in July-August 1976 to recommend to the General Assembly that 1979 be the 20th. Anniversary of the "Magna Charta" of the child fell to proclaim the "International Year of the Child" and to entrust the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) with the implementation of the year. The application was approved. The brand image shows the official symbol of the World Year and a child with an adult's protective hand.