James signed the Holocaust Education Trust’s Book of Commitment today in Parliament, honouring those who were murdered and paying tribute to survivors who work tirelessly to educate young people of the atrocities during World War Two.
Friday 27th January will mark Holocaust Memorial Day, the anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz-Birkenau Concentration Camp in 1945, on which many commemorative events will be held across the country. It is also an opportunity to remember other groups who were persecuted by the Nazis, as well as all those affected by genocides in the years since.
The British Parliament was first told that a genocide in Europe was taking place on 15th December 1942, and last month MPs fell silent at start of House of Commons business to commemorate the 80th anniversary.
“We must never forget the horrors of the Holocaust" said James, "and I commend the important work the Holocaust Education Trust are doing to ensure that younger generations are not just empowered with the knowledge of what happened, but are also inspired to tackle antisemitism, prejudice and hatred today, in whatever form it may take.
“This year’s Holocaust Memorial Day will be especially poignant sad given that we have recently lost Zigi Shipper BEM, a survivor who was imprisoned at Auschwitz-Birkeanau and someone who spent many years of his later life giving his testimony at schools across the UK. I’m sure his family are very proud of the work he did on Holocaust education, and my thoughts are with them at this sad time.”
Karen Pollock CBE, Chief Executive of the Holocaust Education Trust, added, “On Holocaust Memorial Day we remember the 6 million men, women and children who were murdered by the Nazis and their collaborators, simply for being Jewish, and we pay tribute to the incredible survivors, many of whom still share their testimony day in and day out to ensure that future generations never forget the horrors of the past. We also remember that antisemitism did not start or end with the Holocaust, we must all be vigilant, and speak out whenever it is found.”
