This week Andrew signed the Holocaust Educational Trust’s Book of Commitment, and in doing so pledged his commitment to marking Holocaust Memorial Day – honouring the six million Jewish men, women and children murdered during the Holocaust as well as paying tribute to the extraordinary Holocaust survivors who work tirelessly to educate young people today.
Holocaust Memorial Day falls on 27 January, marking the anniversary of the liberation of the former Nazi concentration and death camp, Auschwitz-Birkenau. Across the UK and internationally, people will come together to commemorate the liberation of the Nazi concentration camps across Europe and to remember the Holocaust.
With survivors becoming fewer and frailer, the responsibility falls on us and the next generation to remember and ensure the lessons of the Holocaust are never forgotten. This Holocaust Memorial Day presents a key opportunity to bring the Holocaust to the fore of our national consciousness.
In the lead up to and on Holocaust Memorial Day, thousands of commemorative events will be arranged by schools, faith groups and community organisations across the country, remembering the Jewish victims of the Holocaust. The theme for this year’s commemorations is ‘Bridging Generations’.
On Holocaust Memorial Day we also remember and pay tribute to all of those persecuted by the Nazis, including Roma and Sinti people, disabled people, gay men, political opponents to the Nazis and others.
After signing the Book of Commitment, Andrew commented:
“Holocaust Memorial Day this year marks over 80 years since the liberation of the infamous former Nazi concentration and death camp, Auschwitz-Birkenau, in 1945. Today presents an important opportunity for people to reflect on the darkest times of European history. I pledge to remember the six million Jewish men, women and children who were murdered in the Holocaust and speak out against all forms of antisemitism, which in recent months has risen exponentially and which needs to be tackled head on.”