International Holocaust Day : Definition, History & How do we Observe
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International Holocaust Day is also known as International Holocaust Remembrance Day is observed on the 27th of January every year.
United Nations has appealed to every country to honour the six million Jewish victims of the Holocaust and millions of other victims of Nazism. It also encourages the member states to develop educational programs to help prevent future genocides.
So, What is the History of the International Holocaust Remembrance Day?
The whole day of January 27, 1945, Soviet forces freed the Auschwitz concentration camp complex in German-occupied Poland. The Russian army came upon thousands of sick, dying, and dead prisoners when they set foot in the complex of concentration camps, forced labour camps, and a killing center abandoned by the Nazis. Hitler’s paramilitary organization, also known as Schutzstaffel (SS), had attempted to destroy the camp before fleeing and forcing 60,000 prisoners on a westward “death march.” They tried to conceal the abundant evidence of mass murder and other brutalities that claimed the lives of more than 1.1 million prisoners.
United Nations under its Resolution 60/7 passed in General Assembly commemorated this day in the memory and remembrance of those who were massacred during the holocaust.
How do we Observe the International Holocaust Remembrance Day?
World-over Holocaust Rememberance Weeks have been organized by the Outreach Division of the United Nations Department of Public Information. This project is also known as The Holocaust and the United Nations Outreach Programme. The major celebrations for this project took place in the year 2006, 2007 and 2008.
In 2006, the remembrance took place at the United Nations Headquarters and many significant activities were organized during the week. Movie screening of Fateless by Lajos Koltai and a memorial lecture under the theme “ Remembrance and Beyond” took place. It also included a message from Kofi Anan, former Secretary-General at the United Nations.
In 2007, the observance played emphasis on infusing today’s youth with the lessons of the Holocaust so that future generations may work to prevent hatred, racism and prejudice. The UN Department of Public Information launched a new website named “Electronic Notes for Speakers.” developed exclusively for Holocaust. Many other notable celebrations were a part of the commemoration in 2007.
In 2008, the theme was for the protection of Human Rights and a commemorative postage stamp was issued by the Israel Postal Company. A permanent showcase on the Holocaust and the UN was unveiled in the United Nations Headquarters.
Several other commemorations have been taking place all throughout the world which has been worth mentioning here.
Observance took place at the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum and Yad Vashem in Jerusalem.
In Israel, this day is known as Yom HaShoah and ceremonies take place throughout the country.