Secretary-General to Address Ceremony Marking International Day in Memory of Holocaust Victims, at United Nations Headquarters, 27 January
The United Nations will mark the International Day of Commemoration in memory of the victims of the Holocaust with a memorial ceremony on Friday, 27 January, in the General Assembly Hall at United Nations Headquarters in New York. Secretary-General António Guterres will deliver an address at the event, which is organized by the Department of Public Information and will take place from 11 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. The ceremony will also include a tribute to the late Professor Elie Wiesel, Holocaust survivor, Nobel Laureate and United Nations Messenger of Peace who passed away in July 2016.
The Holocaust memorial ceremony will be held under the theme “Holocaust Remembrance: Educating for a Better Future”, which highlights the universal dimension of Holocaust education as an appropriate platform for building respect for human rights, increasing tolerance and defending our common humanity. The Holocaust was a defining point in history and its lessons have much to teach about the danger of extremism and the prevention of genocide today.
Cristina Gallach, Under-Secretary-General for Communications and Public Information, will host the ceremony. In addition to the Secretary-General, speakers will include Peter Thomson, President of the General Assembly; Danny Danon, Permanent Representative of Israel to the United Nations; and Michele J. Sison, Deputy Permanent Representative of the United States to the United Nations. Noah Klieger, Holocaust survivor and journalist, will serve as keynote speaker. Cantor Israel Singer of the Congregation Temple Emanu-El of Closter, New Jersey, will recite the memorial prayers and be accompanied by violinist Artur Kaganovskiy. The ceremony will include music by guitarist Gary Lucas and vocalist Rachel Joselson. Following the ceremony, author Nina Wolff-Feld will sign copies of her book Someday You Will Understand in the United Nations Book Shop.
Other events to be held at Headquarters during Holocaust remembrance week include the opening of two exhibits: Education and Remembrance: The Holocaust in Romania, produced by the National Institute for Romanian Holocaust Studies, on Monday, 23 January; and State of Deception: The Power of Nazi Propaganda, curated by the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday, 24 January. In partnership with the Museum, the Holocaust and the United Nations Outreach Programme has produced a traveling version of the exhibit in the six official United Nations languages, as well as Dutch, Kiswahili and Ukrainian. The exhibit will be displayed in 35 countries through the United Nations Information Centres.
A screening of the film Persona Non Grata will be held on Wednesday, 25 January, in partnership with the Permanent Missions of Japan and Lithuania to the United Nations. The film reveals the story of how a Japanese diplomat, Chiune Sugihara, saved thousands of lives during the Second World War by issuing transit visas to Jewish refugees while he was based in Lithuania. The film is directed by Cellin Gluck and distributed by Sony Pictures, Inc.
On Thursday, 26 January, the Department will organize its weekly briefing for non-governmental organizations under the theme “Holocaust Remembrance: Educating against Extremism, Building a Better Future”.
With guidance and support from the Education Outreach Section, the global network of United Nations Information Centres will organize more than 140 Holocaust education and remembrance activities in 47 countries.
Guests may view more details about the week’s events at www.un.org/holocaustremembrance. Photo identification is required by United Nations security to pass through the visitors’ entrance at 46th Street and 1st Avenue in New York.
The Holocaust and the United Nations Outreach Programme was established by General Assembly resolution 60/7 in 2006 in order to further education about and remembrance of the Holocaust and thereby help prevent future acts of genocide. Its multifaceted programme includes online and print educational products, seminars, exhibitions, a film series and the annual worldwide observance of the International Day of Commemoration in memory of the victims of the Holocaust, held on 27 January.
For media accreditation, please visit www.un.org/media/accreditation.
For programme details, please contact Tracey Petersen at e-mail: petersen3@un.org.