Holocaust Memorial Day
Holocaust Memorial Day, observed on 27 January each year, commemorates the millions of victims of the Holocaust and Nazi persecution, and the genocides which followed in Cambodia, Rwanda, Bosnia and Darfur.
27 January is significant as the anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau, the largest Nazi death camp.
People around the world will take time to reflect and take part in remembrance and education projects to ensure the past will never be forgotten and the mistakes of history can never be repeated.
The theme for Holocaust Memorial Day 2023 is ‘Ordinary People’. Signifying those who are victimised, oppressed and murdered in genocide aren’t persecuted because of crimes they’ve committed but because they’re ordinary people who belong to a particular group.
Persecuted people as ordinary people
Victims of genocide were ordinary people. They simply had an aspect of their identity that the perpetrators did not like, and that made them targets for persecution.
Perpetrators could – and did – determine who would be persecuted based on whatever parameters they wanted, including perceived rather than actual aspects of someone’s identity.
Survivors are often portrayed as extraordinary individuals. However, it is important to remember that they survived the most horrendous acts not necessarily because they were extraordinary, but often due to a mixture of luck, skill, circumstance or the involvement of other people.
Rescuers as ordinary people
Rescuers are also often portrayed as extraordinary or superhuman, with amazing bravery and skill. This may be true in some instances, but many rescuers describe themselves in very simple terms, highlighting the circumstances that enabled them to save others.
Sometimes they were able to provide food to others who needed it, sometimes they hid people. Ordinary people who did extraordinary things, risking their lives, their livelihoods and their families to help others.
Ordinary people as bystanders
Most people living under a murderous regime don’t take an active role in a genocide. They do not become perpetrators or rescuers. They let the genocide take place around them and they take no action to contribute to it, yet neither do they take action to challenge it, prevent it or to stop it happening.
Today
We are all ordinary people today who can be extraordinary in our actions. We can all make decisions to challenge prejudice, stand up to hatred and speak out against identity-based persecution.
Further information about Holocaust Memorial Day can be found by visiting www.hmd.org.uk/.