Every January 27 is commemorated as International Holocaust Remembrance Day. It is a remembrance of the victims who died in concentration camps in World War II. It is not only a tribute to the victims of the Nazi Holocaust. It is also held to make today’s youth aware of hateful ideologies.
International Holocaust Remembrance Day was established by the UN to remember and raise awareness
The tribute to the victims has been held on this day since the UN General Assembly decided in 2005. It took into account January 27, 1945, when Soviet troops liberated the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration and extermination camp.
In the Holocaust more than six million people perished at the hands of the Nazis. All of them with no other “sin” than being Jews. Women, men and children perished because of human hatred in the most horrible and inhuman way. And the most dramatic thing is that not only did it affect the lives of German Jews, but many lost their lives in other parts of the world because of the same hatred.
It has been 77 years since the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau, but the pain persists. Moreover, this concentration and extermination camp is but one of many that the Nazis created during World War II.
Raising awareness so that history does not repeat itself
Since 2005, the States share the pain and the responsibility to close wounds that are still open. Traumas that still linger on. Also to maintain those places where extermination camps operated in order to safeguard the collective memory. Promoting education, documents found in those sites and research. But, above all, what must never happen again because of hatred
In the 2022 campaign, the United Nations launched a slogan: “Memory, Dignity and Justice”. It is to remember those who suffered the consequences of the Holocaust in order to bring them dignity and justice. But also to those who died unjustly because of the barbarism caused by the hatred of a handful of Nazi hierarchs, to bring them dignity and memory. To this end, various events and exhibitions will be held in various places around the world.
However, some seeds of discrimination such as hatred, anti-Semitism or xenophobia can be seen today. Gender discrimination and discrimination based on sexual orientation are also present. Seeds that must be eradicated in order not to repeat a history that we try to commemorate but not relive.
Latent phobias in the 21st century
We are in the 21st century, yet phobias still exist. Phobias that should be eradicated can be described:
Xenophobia
It is related to the irrational fear towards foreigners. This leads to mistreatment, violations of the individual’s rights and even murder against them.
Antisemitism
Anti-Semitism is the main cause of the Nazi holocaust against the Jewish people. It consists of the rejection of the entire Jewish community, discriminating against them socially, economically and politically.
Gender discrimination
It is the belief that women are inferior to men. This causes them to have no access to education, to a well-paid job or to decide for themselves. In many Muslim countries, they do not even have the right to leave their homes and are horribly amputated.
Discrimination based on sexual orientation
Every individual has the right to be who they are, freely and without prejudice. Discrimination causes them to be unable to exercise their basic rights.
As long as these phobias exist, humanity is doomed to repeat tragedies like those of the Holocaust. Society is in urgent need of change, although there are things that are very difficult to eradicate, such as hatred and discrimination towards another living being.
