Hopes for the future

Millennium Collection

Hopes for the future is the 25th and final set of Royal Mail's 100-stamp Millennium Collection and draws its inspiration from the United Nation Convention on the Rights of the Child and the work done by UNICEF, the United Nations children's fund.

Hopes for the Future performs a dual role

Mark Thompson, Managing Director of Royal Mail stamps and collectibles, said: "The final issue, Hopes for the Future, performs a dual role; bringing to an end the Millennium Collection while heralding the start of the 2001 programme, which sees a return to the celebration of themes and anniversaries."
The Stamp Advisory Committee selected the London-based design practice Why Not Associates who originated a close up of a child's face with text overlaid suggesting children's rights. This idea was taken forward with each of the four faces painted as a flower, tiger, owl and butterfly both to ensure anonymity and to draw a subliminal connection to the rights of the child.

UN Convention on the Rights of the Child

The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child is the most successful human rights agreement of all time. Since it came into being in 1979 virtually every government in the world has signed up to it. It is the most widely accepted human rights treaty in the world, aiming to fulfil the rights of all children, without discrimination. The Convention is a ruler to measure how societies treat their children, bringing people and governments together to put children's well-being first.

Stamps in detail

Values: 1st class, 2nd class, 45p and 65p.
Print: Gravure by De La Rue Security Print.
Size: 37 x 25 mm.
Perforation: 14 x 14.5.

More information

Stamps United Kingdom
Postage Stamps 2001