Wales Office Ministers mark Holocaust Memorial Day
Stephen Crabb, Jenny Randerson and Alun Cairns commemorate Holocaust Memorial Day.
Wales Office Ministers Stephen Crabb, Alun Cairns and Jenny Randerson will mark Holocaust Memorial Day this week which this year commemorates the 70th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau and the 20th anniversary of the genocide in Srebrenica, Bosnia.
Stephen Crabb and Alun Cairns will sign the Holocaust Education Trust’s Book of Commitment in the House of Commons which is signed by hundreds of MPs every year as a pledge to fight prejudice and hatred.
Jenny Randerson will attend the Holocaust Memorial Day event at Westminster Central Hall.
Welsh Secretary Stephen Crabb said:
This is an important opportunity to remember the victims and survivors of the Holocaust and to make sure they are not forgotten.
As recent events have shown anti-Semitism and other forms of bigotry have sadly not yet been relegated to the history books and I would urge people across Wales to mark the day and to join in the fight against prejudice, intolerance and extremism.
We all have a responsibility to speak out and challenge discrimination and persecution whenever we see it.
Last week Mr Crabb met Rabbi Michael Rose at Cardiff United Synagogue to discuss the threat from extremism and to see how the UK government can work with organisations to help protect people in Wales. Mr Crabb also attended a multi-faith service Pembrokeshire to mark the 70th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau.
Wales Office Minister Jenny Randerson said:
On Holocaust Memorial Day we recall the suffering and murder of the millions of Jewish people and others who died in the ghettos and Nazi death camps.
We must also remember the victims of other genocides around the world including the thousands who perished in the Srebrenica massacre.
We need to preserve the memory of these dreadful events to better understand what can happen when hatred and prejudice are left unchecked and intolerance and hatred are allowed to flourish.
Wales Office Minister Alun Cairns said:
As we commemorate Holocaust Memorial Day and the victims and survivors of genocide around the world, it’s important that we keep their stories alive and continue working for a more just society.
Many people fleeing persecution have made Wales their home and so it’s up to all of us to recognise that we have a role to play in building tolerance and understanding across our communities.
It’s vital that the lessons from the Holocaust are taught today and to future generations to make sure it never happens again.
For more information on Holocaust Memorial Day visit here