Holocaust Memorial Day goes online for the first time ever
This year's theme is 'Be the Light in the Darkness'
Today marks Holocaust Memorial Day.
It is the day we remember the millions of people who died during the Holocaust, under Nazi persecution, and in the genocides that followed in Cambodia, Rwanda, Bosnia and Darfur. Held every year, it falls on the anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp, where more than a million people died during the Second World War.
The theme for this year is 'Be the Light in the Darkness'.
It encourages us all to reflect on the depths humanity can sink to, but also the ways individuals and communities resisted that darkness to 'be the light' before, during and after genocide.
Usually officers and councillors from Dorset Council support the South West Dorset Multicultural Network to organise their annual Holocaust Memorial Event. Unfortunately due to the current restrictions the event will not take place this year. However, there are still ways to show your support from the safety of your home.
The Holocaust Memorial Trust will be live-streaming a memorial ceremony online at 7pm on 27 January. You can join in with the conversation on social media by using the following hashtags; #HolocaustMemorialDay #HMD2021 or simply take a quiet moment of personal reflection at home.
Holocaust Memorial Day is an opportunity to remember those who suffered and died because of who they were in both the Holocaust and subsequent genocides, but it also allows us to stand up to prejudice and hatred today.
Cllr Val Pothecary, Chairman of Dorset Council, said:
"Holocaust Memorial Day provides a stark reminder of all those who suffered and died because of their religious beliefs or cultural differences. We must never underestimate the potential of man's inhumanity to man and the need to ensure that intolerance is replaced with wisdom and compassion."
If you'd like to learn more about this year's theme the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust has a range of resources including life stories, recommendations for book clubs, poetry and short films.