HOLOCAUST MEMORIAL DAY: STATEMENT OF PURPOSE

As it is Holocaust Memorial Day, and since there are entries in this blog today about a couple of events commemorating it in Leicester today, I thought it would be good to round off the day with this published "Statement of Purpose". This describes the aims of Holocaust Memorial Day as being to:

• recognise that the Holocaust was a tragically defining episode of the twentieth century, a crisis for European civilisation and a universal catastrophe for humanity.
• provide a national mark of respect for all victims of Nazi persecution and demonstrate understanding with all those who still suffer its consequences.
• raise awareness and understanding of the events of the Holocaust as a continuing issue of fundamental importance for all humanity.
• ensure that the horrendous crimes, racism and victimisation committed during the Holocaust are neither forgotten not repeated, whether in Europe or elsewhere in the world.
• restate the conitnuing need for vigilance in light of the troubling repetition of human tragedies in the world today.
• reflect on recent attrocities that raise similar issues.
• provide a national focus for educating subsequent generations about the Holocaust and the continued relevance of the lessons that are learnt from it.
• provide an opportunity to examine our nation's past and learn for the fututre.
• promote a democractic and tolerant society, free of the evils of prejudice, racism and other forms of bigotry.
• support the Government's commitment that all citizens - without distinction - should participate freely and fully in the economic, social and public life of the nation.
• highlight the values of a tolerant and diverse society based upon the notions of universal dignity and equal rights and responsibilities for all its citizens.
• assert a continuing commitment to oppose racism, anti-Semitism, victimisationa and genocide.
• support our shared aspirations with both our European partners and the wider international community centred on the ideals of peace, justice and community for all.