On and around Saturday 27th January, schools, local communities and faith groups from across the UK will join together to mark Holocaust Memorial Day. Thousands of events are being held across the country and many in north Westminster and Kensington to commemorate all those who suffered at the hands of the Nazis during the Holocaust. Holocaust Memorial Day also provides the opportunity to reflect on more recent genocides such as Rwanda and Kosovo, and the lessons relating to prejudice which still need to be learnt today.

There will be, for instance, a concert held at the St. John’s Wood Jewish Liberal Synagogue on 28th January from 5:30pm.  January 27th marks the anniversary of the liberation in 1945 of Auschwitz-Birkenau, the infamous concentration and extermination camp. It is the seventh year that the anniversary has been officially commemorated in the UK. In 2005, the United Nations General Assembly adopted the day passing the Holocaust Memorial Day resolution.

Local MP Karen Buck signed a Book of Commitment in the House of Commons, making a pledge to ensure that the victims of the Holocaust, and of all genocide, are never forgotten, and that the causes and consequences of the Holocaust are understood by future generations.

Karen Buck said: “Holocaust Memorial Day provides a focus for each of us to learn from the lessons of the Holocaust. We must not only reflect on the horrors of the Holocaust and remember all the victims killed and persecuted by the Nazis but also to challenge all types of prejudice and discrimination which continue in our society today.

Karen Pollock, Chief Executive of the Holocaust Educational Trust said: “We are delighted that Karen Buck is supporting Holocaust Memorial Day. At a time when we still see groups and individuals questioning the validity of the Holocaust, Holocaust Memorial Day and Holocaust Education is more important than ever.

It is through the participation and support of schools, local groups and elected members that give this day the impact it has around the country and we applaud their commitment to fighting racism, antisemitism and all prejudice”.