Earlier this month Emma listened to Iby Knill, who survived the Holocaust; and Safet Vukalić, who survived the Bosnian War; at the launch event for Holocaust Memorial Day 2015.
Holocaust Memorial Day (HMD) is commemorated each year on 27 January – the anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz death and concentration camp. HMD provides an opportunity for everyone to learn lessons from the Holocaust, Nazi persecution and subsequent genocides in Cambodia, Rwanda, Bosnia and Darfur. HMD asks people to apply these lessons to the present day to create a safer, better future.
The Holocaust Memorial Day Trust (HMDT) promotes and supports HMD activities in the UK. Each year HMDT selects a theme around which HMD activities can focus. The theme for 2015 is Keep the memory alive.
Iby read a powerful poem based on her memories of the Auschwitz camp – entitled ‘I was there’.
Safet spoke about how he was taught about the Holocaust at school in Bosnia, never expecting that just a few years later members of his family would be imprisoned in concentration camps. He highlighted how HMD commemorates the genocides which have occurred since the Holocaust, and how HMD 2015 will be particularly important, marking the 70th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz and the 20th anniversary of Genocide in Srebrenica, Bosnia.
Emma also met with the HMD Trust’s North East Regional Support Worker, Sharon Artley, to discuss future events marking HMD in the North East.
Emma said:
‘Iby and Safet’s stories are a reminder of the importance of marking Holocaust Memorial Day – a day where we remember the millions who were affected by the Holocaust and other genocides. I want to encourage people in South Shields to mark HMD on 27 January 2015.’
Olivia Marks-Woldman, Chief Executive of the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust, said:
‘We were delighted that Emma showed her support for Holocaust Memorial Day. We hope that many more people in South Shields will organise activities for next year’s HMD – adding to the over 2,400 activities which took place for HMD 2014.’