The International Day of Commemoration in memory of the victims of the Holocaust was held at the United Nations Headquarter Complex in Gigiri, on 27 January 2014.
The theme this year: “Journeys through the Holocaust”, recalls memories of the various journeys (passages) taken during this dark period, from deportation to incarceration to freedom, and how the experiences transformed the lives of those who endured it. These are stories of pain and suffering, yet ultimately also of triumph and renewal, serving as a guiding force for future generations.
An exhibition depicting the theme and screening of a film titled “Nicky’s Family” which documents how Nicholas Winton saved the lives of 669 children, most of them Jewish, in Nazi-occupied Czechoslovakia were part of this year’s event.
Dignitaries at the memorial event included H.E Gil Haskel (Ambassador of the state of Israel), Dr. Fred Matiangi (Kenya’s Cabinet Secretary for Information and Communication Technology), H.E Amb. Sahle-Work Zewde (Director General of UNON), H.E Amb. Andreas Peschke (Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany), H.E Amb. Michal Mylner (Ambassador of the Slovak Republic), Mr. Albert Attias (President of the Jewish Community in Kenya), Rabbi Brachyahu Shonthal among other guests. Also in attendance were members of the public and school children from different schools in Nairobi.
Some of the participants in the memorial event
Holocaust 2014 c.jpgIn his speech, H.E Gil Haskel underscored the “need for everyone to combat new streams of anti-semitism before they swirl into renewed acts of mass violence.”
About the Holocaust and the UN
In its resolution 60/7 of 2005, the United Nations General Assembly designated 27 January -- the anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz death camp -- as an annual International Day of Commemoration in memory of the victims of the Holocaust, and urged Member States to develop educational programs to instill the memory of the tragedy in future generations to prevent genocide from occurring again. It requested the United Nations Secretary-General to establish an outreach program on the "Holocaust and the United Nations", as well as institute measures to mobilize civil society for Holocaust remembrance and education, in order to help prevent future acts of genocide.