This week Dame Caroline Spelman, MP for the Meriden constituency signed the Holocaust Educational Trust’s Book of Commitment, in doing so pledging her commitment to Holocaust Memorial Day and honouring those who were murdered during the Holocaust as well as paying tribute to the extraordinary Holocaust survivors who work tirelessly to educate young people.
Friday 27th January will mark the anniversary of the liberation of the Nazi concentration and death camp Auschwitz-Birkenau, the site of the largest mass murder in history.
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 all the victims of the Holocaust and subsequent genocides. The theme for this year’s commemorations is ‘How can life go on?’
After signing the Book of Commitment, Dame Caroline commented:
“It is important that we, as a nation continue to mark Holocaust Memorial Day, which gives us all an opportunity to reflect on the tragic events of the Holocaust. As the Holocaust moves from living history, into the pages of our history books, it becomes ever more important that we take the time to remember the victims, and also pay tribute to the survivors – many of whom have sought to use their own experiences to educate others about these terrible events.
“Whilst the spectre of the Holocaust that we so often associate with Nazi Germany no longer hangs over Europe, as Second Church Estates Commissioner I am reminded that there are still many who fall victim to religious persecution and hate crime, the world over. For that reason, I am pleased that the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust also works to recognise and support the victims of more recent genocides including; Rwanda, Bosnia and Darfur.
“I would encourage my constituents to show their support for such an important day”.
Karen Pollock MBE, Chief Executive of the Holocaust Educational Trust, said:
Our mission is to educate young people from every background about the Holocaust and its contemporary relevance. We are very grateful to Dame Caroline for signing the Book of Commitment, signalling a continued commitment to remembering the victims of the Holocaust as well as challenging antisemitism, prejudice and bigotry in all its forms.