Unity at Holocaust Day event

PEOPLE from all faiths gathered in Newcastle as the city held a Holocaust Memorial Day event at the Civic Centre yesterday.

- HELEN DALBY

Holocaust Memorial Day officially takes place on January 27 every year - the date which marked the liberation of Nazi concentration camp Auschwitz-Birkenau, 81 years ago.

It’s an event which brings together people from all religions, cultures and backgrounds to learn about the past, understand what's happening in the world today, and share history and lessons to build a better future.

‘Bridging Generations’ was the theme of this year's Holocaust Memorial Day, and those assembled for the sombre event at the Civic Centre heard of the importance of sharing history with future generations and learning lessons from the past.

When survivors of the Holocaust and genocides in places such as Rwanda, Cambodia, Bosnia and Myanmar talk about their experiences they are clear that genocide does not start with persecution and murder but with words that drive hatred, prejudice and division.

‘The ‘Bridging Generations’ theme to this year’s programme of events in Newcastle is therefore a call to action for the responsibility everyone in society holds to ensure survivors’ stories are passed down from generation to generation.