In a solemn ceremony held Friday at the United Nations headquarters in New York, Secretary-General Antonio Guterres honored the memory of the Holocaust victims, emphasizing the urgent need to combat antisemitism and all forms of bigotry.
The event, marking the International Day of Commemoration in Memory of the Victims of the Holocaust, brought together dignitaries, Holocaust survivors, and their families, both online and in person, on the anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau.
“It’s a great honor to be with you today to commemorate the memory of the victims of the Holocaust,” the secretary-general stated, acknowledging the deep significance of the day.
He highlighted the importance of remembering the 6 million Jewish victims and the millions of others persecuted by the Nazi regime, including the Roma and Sinti communities.
“All of us – leaders and citizens – have a responsibility to listen and to learn from what you have to say. And to act on it,” he said, stressing the need for collective efforts to eradicate antisemitism, bigotry, hatred, and intolerance.
The international day serves as a poignant reminder of the atrocities of the Holocaust, a period marked by the systematic extermination of 6 million Jews, along with the persecution and murder of countless others. This day, chosen for its significance as the day Auschwitz-Birkenau was liberated, stands as a testament to the resilience of the human spirit and the courage of those who survived.
The secretary-general also reflected on personal and collective acts of bravery during the Holocaust, mentioning individuals like Rudolf Vrba and Roza Robota, whose extraordinary acts of resistance against the Nazis offer lessons of courage and fortitude. “We remember and revere today all such acts of bravery,” he affirmed, underscoring the importance of acknowledging these stories of resilience.
In his concluding remarks, the top UN official reiterated the UN’s commitment to fighting racism and bigotry in all forms. “Racism and bigotry are a violation of everything we stand for,” he declared, calling for a united stand against antisemitism and all forms of discrimination.
He also highlighted the role of the UN Alliance of Civilizations in addressing antisemitism globally.
In 2005, the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution which designated Jan. 27 as the International Day of Commemoration in Memory of the Victims of the Holocaust, the day when Auschwitz death camp was liberated in 1945. ■
This photo taken on Jan. 27, 2024 shows a flower on the wall of an Old Jewish Cemetery on Battonnstrasse in Frankfurt, Germany. In 2005, the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution which designated Jan. 27 as the International Day of Commemoration in Memory of the Victims of the Holocaust, the day when Auschwitz death camp was liberated in 1945. The walls of Old Jewish Cemeteries contain small steel blocks recording the names of Frankfurt’s Jews deported and murdered between 1933 and 1945. (Xinhua/Zhang Fan)
This photo taken on Jan. 27, 2024 shows the gate of an Old Jewish Cemetery on Battonnstrasse in Frankfurt, Germany. In 2005, the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution which designated Jan. 27 as the International Day of Commemoration in Memory of the Victims of the Holocaust, the day when Auschwitz death camp was liberated in 1945. The walls of Old Jewish Cemeteries contain small steel blocks recording the names of Frankfurt’s Jews deported and murdered between 1933 and 1945. (Xinhua/Zhang Fan)
This photo taken on Jan. 27, 2024 shows the wall of an Old Jewish Cemetery on Battonnstrasse in Frankfurt, Germany. In 2005, the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution which designated Jan. 27 as the International Day of Commemoration in Memory of the Victims of the Holocaust, the day when Auschwitz death camp was liberated in 1945. The walls of Old Jewish Cemeteries contain small steel blocks recording the names of Frankfurt’s Jews deported and murdered between 1933 and 1945. (Xinhua/Zhang Fan)
This photo taken on Jan. 27, 2024 shows a wall containing name blocks at an Old Jewish Cemetery on Battonnstrasse in Frankfurt, Germany. In 2005, the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution which designated Jan. 27 as the International Day of Commemoration in Memory of the Victims of the Holocaust, the day when Auschwitz death camp was liberated in 1945. The walls of Old Jewish Cemeteries contain small steel blocks recording the names of Frankfurt’s Jews deported and murdered between 1933 and 1945. (Xinhua/Zhang Fan)
A man looks at the wall of an Old Jewish Cemetery on Battonnstrasse in Frankfurt, Germany, Jan. 27, 2024. In 2005, the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution which designated Jan. 27 as the International Day of Commemoration in Memory of the Victims of the Holocaust, the day when Auschwitz death camp was liberated in 1945. The walls of Old Jewish Cemeteries contain small steel blocks recording the names of Frankfurt’s Jews deported and murdered between 1933 and 1945. (Xinhua/Zhang Fan)
This photo taken on Jan. 27, 2024 shows a flower on the wall of an Old Jewish Cemetery on Battonnstrasse in Frankfurt, Germany. In 2005, the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution which designated Jan. 27 as the International Day of Commemoration in Memory of the Victims of the Holocaust, the day when Auschwitz death camp was liberated in 1945. The walls of Old Jewish Cemeteries contain small steel blocks recording the names of Frankfurt’s Jews deported and murdered between 1933 and 1945. (Xinhua/Zhang Fan)
This photo taken on Jan. 27, 2024 shows the wall of an Old Jewish Cemetery on Battonnstrasse in Frankfurt, Germany. In 2005, the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution which designated Jan. 27 as the International Day of Commemoration in Memory of the Victims of the Holocaust, the day when Auschwitz death camp was liberated in 1945. The walls of Old Jewish Cemeteries contain small steel blocks recording the names of Frankfurt’s Jews deported and murdered between 1933 and 1945. (Xinhua/Zhang Fan)
This photo taken on Jan. 27, 2024 shows the wall of an Old Jewish Cemetery on Battonnstrasse in Frankfurt, Germany. In 2005, the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution which designated Jan. 27 as the International Day of Commemoration in Memory of the Victims of the Holocaust, the day when Auschwitz death camp was liberated in 1945. The walls of Old Jewish Cemeteries contain small steel blocks recording the names of Frankfurt’s Jews deported and murdered between 1933 and 1945. (Xinhua/Zhang Fan)
