International Day of Commemoration in memory of the victims of the Holocaust

International Day of Commemoration in memory of the victims of the Holocaust is an international celebration on January 27 in memory of the victims of the Holocaust, the genocide of the Jews in Europe by Nazi Germany from 1941 to 1945.

How was International Day of Commemoration in memory of the victims of the Holocaust launched?

Every year, the city of Venice organizes memorial and remembrance events. The Venice Office of the Council of Europe participates in Holocaust Remembrance Day by arranging book presentations, film screenings, concerts, photo exhibitions and participation in municipal initiatives.

In 2016, 2017 and 2018, the Venice Office participated in the laying of “stumbling stones,” cobblestone-sized concrete blocks bearing a bronze plaque with the name and the date of birth of the victims of the Holocaust. “Stolpersteine”, an initiative of German artist Gunter Deming, was installed in front of the last residence of the victims before being deported. With a total of 73 stones, the city of Venice has the third highest number of Stolpersteine ​​stones in Italy.

In 2018, the Venice office organized and participated in a number of initiatives, including the screening of a documentary in tribute to the fallen soldiers of the Italian Acqui division that was destroyed by the German army commune in September 1943 and produced a stage reading of the opera Chronos Paràdoksos recounting the birth of Europe today after the devastation of World War II and the Battle of the Shoah. The office participated in the event “Sport and Shoah: Propaganda, Removal, Persecution”, held at the Jewish Museum of Venice and organized in partnership with the Jewish Community of Venice.

The Council of Europe is committed to the protection of Roman rights and the integration of Romans. A task group led by the Secretary-General's Special Representative for Roma Affairs was established in 2011. Projects undertaken by the Council of Europe include developing a network of mediators to advocacy anti-discrimination and education about the Roman genocide.

To contribute to the organization's work in this area, the Venice Office organizes memorial events around the common theme of Porrajmos, a Romani word for the effort to exterminate the Romans during World War II planned and tried.

These activities are the result of a partnership with the Roma Kalderash Association, which fights against negative stereotypes and discrimination and promotes integration projects. In 2013, the Venice Office co-organized a photo exhibition of Porrajmos, participated in the screening of the film "A People on the Edge of History" and was presented the Roma flag by the Kalderash Association.

In 2014, the Venice Office participated in the Porrajmos memorial service that took place at the Shrine for Unknown Victims of the Holocaust in Padova, the only memorial in Italy dedicated to the Roma genocide, where the President the Roma Kalderash Association laid a wreath.

During 2015, the activities of the Venice Office focused on disseminating information on actions related to Roma issues promoted by the Council of Europe. The Roma flag flies outside the town hall: this event is sponsored by the Venice Office.

In 2016, the office co-hosted a Balkan Roma concert and screened the film “The Roma”. It accompanied the Roma Kalderash Association to the headquarters of the City of Venice, where the Roman flag was presented to the President of the city council.

The presentation of the book “These Roma, These Strangers” was the focus of a conference held for Holocaust Memorial Day 2017 at Ca’ Foscari University.

In 2018, Roma Association President Kalderash spoke about the extermination of Roma in Nazi concentration camps at a workshop on Auschwitz organized by the Office at Ca' Foscari University.

UNESCO chosen January 27 to pay attribution to the victims of the Holocaust and reaffirms its unwavering commitment to combating anti-Semitism, racism and other possible forms of intolerance lead to group violence. The date marks the anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz-Birkenau Nazi concentration camp and extermination by Soviet troops on January 27, 1945. International Day of Remembrance for the Victims of the Holocaust published in November 2005 by United Nations General Assembly.

The Holocaust profoundly affected the countries where Nazi crimes were committed, but also had effects and consequences that were common in many other parts of the world. Member States share common responsibilities for addressing trauma, maintaining effective memorial policies, caring for historic sites, and promoting education, documentation and research, seven decades after the genocide. This responsibility requires education about the causes, consequences and dynamics of such crimes to strengthen young people's resilience to hateful thoughts. As genocide and atrocities continue to occur across several regions, and as we are witnessing a global rise in anti-Semitism and hate speech, this has never been the case related to that.

What do you do in International Day of Commemoration in memory of the victims of the Holocaust?

Because the International Day of Remembrance for the Victims of the Holocaust is a day when we must reaffirm our commitment to human rights.

We enhance the memory by educating and educating to ensure that generations are aware of this historic event. We must apply the imperative lessons of the Holocaust to today's young generation. And we must do our best so that all peoples can enjoy the protections and rights that the United Nations stands for.