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Woking Borough Council will join thousands of individuals and organisations across the nation in lighting a candle of remembrance to mark Holocaust Memorial Day (Saturday 27 January).
The lit candle is a symbol of solidarity and reflection to remember the countless lives that have been lost or impacted by genocide.
On this day in 1945, Auschwitz-Birkenau, the largest Nazi death camp, was liberated by Soviet troops. Six million Jewish people were murdered during the Holocaust, alongside the millions of other people killed under Nazi persecution and in the more recent genocides in Cambodia, Rwanda, Bosnia and Darfur.
The theme for this year’s Holocaust Memorial Day is ‘Fragility of Freedom’, which reflects on the fact that freedom is fragile and vulnerable to abuse. Freedoms should not be taken for granted and we should consider what we can do to strengthen freedoms around the world.
The Mayor of Woking, Cllr M Ilyas Raja, said: “Holocaust Memorial Day is a time for bringing communities together in remembrance of the millions of people persecuted and killed for who they were, and in so doing, to learn the lessons of the past and stand up to hatred, bigotry and racism wherever we find it today.
“At a time of heightened international tensions, bringing communities together in recognition of our common humanity is more important than ever. We are committed to promoting fairness and acceptance in our borough, tackling prejudice and promoting inclusion. We stand against genocide anywhere in the world.
“This year’s theme should prompt us all to consider how quickly freedom can be taken away and how we should always strive to stand up for those who have had it taken from them.”
Holocaust Memorial Day is for everyone, and each year across the UK people come together to learn more about the past and take action to create a safer future.
To learn more about Holocaust Memorial Day Trust, please visit their website here.