Today is Holocaust Memorial Day marking the anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau, the largest Nazi death camp. It is a day for everyone to remember the millions of people murdered in the Holocaust, and in genocides that followed in Cambodia, Rwanda, Bosnia, and Darfur. This year’s theme is ‘One Day’ where we remember that everyone who died or survived the Holocaust had one day that changed their lives forever.
Every year, since becoming an MP, I have taken part in events in both Chichester and Westminster. To mark the occasion, I attended a special performance at the Chichester Festival Theatre of The Mozart Question which told the story of Paolo Levi, a world-famous performer who developed his passion for music as a young child. The play brought to life Mozart’s beautiful music and the story of how it helped Paolo’s parents survive as Jewish prisoners in a concentration camp during the Second World War.
I am hugely grateful to the whole team behind ‘Chichester Marks Holocaust Memorial Day’ as every year they ensure we as a community mark this special occasion. Their events are focused on education and training regarding the Holocaust and other genocides, and always promote human rights, religious and racial harmony, and equality to all. Their work and Holocaust Memorial Day as a whole is becoming increasingly important as many survivors are no longer with us to tell their stories.
In Westminster, I renewed my annual pledge by signing The Holocaust Education Trust’s ‘Book of Commitment’ – which is a commitment to Holocaust Memorial Day; to honouring those who lost their lives to genocide; and to pay tribute to the survivors.
