Today is Holocaust Memorial Day (Monday, 27th January). The date signifies the anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau – the largest Nazi death camp – and the Day encourages remembrance of the six million Jews murdered during the Holocaust, the millions of other people killed under Nazi Persecution and also those who have perished in subsequent genocides since. This year marks 75 years since the liberation of the camp.
I signed the Holocaust Educational Trust’s Book of Commitment in Parliament – as I have done in previous years – and in doing so I pledged my commitment to Holocaust Memorial Day, honouring the millions who were so wickedly and systematically murdered during the Holocaust. I pay tribute to the extraordinary work of those who continue to work tirelessly to educate young people about these horrors.
I was also one of many MPs who have signed up to the International Human Rights Association’s Definition of anti-Semitism, pledging my commitment to supporting global efforts against the scourge of racism.
With rising anti-Semitism in the UK, it is as important as ever to mark this event, and the work of the Holocaust Education Trust is as important now as it has ever been. We must continue to educate people about such horrors to discourage any forms of hate towards groups of people. Education is crucial in ensuring nothing like it ever happens again.