international holocaust remembrance day 2003

To counter antisemitism, we must challenge hateful belief systems USC experts are available to discuss International Holocaust Remembrance Day and the recent rise in antisemitism.Ĭontact: Pamela Madrid, USC Media Relations, or (213) 740-2215 This is the highest number on record since they began tracking antisemitic incidents in 1979. in 2021 - an average of more than seven incidents per day and a 34 percent increase year over year.

Experts speculate whether the 2017 neo-Nazi rally in Charlottesville, Va., served to normalize antisemitic behavior.Īccording to the Anti-Defamation League, antisemitic incidents reached an all-time high of 2,717 in the U.S. The day has taken on additional significance as antisemitism and acts of violence against Jewish people are on the rise across the nation, fueled by social media disinformation, extremist celebrities and athletes, and politicians. The day commemorates the 6 million Jewish victims, as well as slave and Sinti-Roma victims, whose lives were unjustly snuffed out by the Nazi regime during World War II. The day, which marks the 78th anniversary of the liberation of the Nazi concentration camp Auschwitz-Birkenau, was established in 2005 by the United Nations General Assembly. Thank you.īy U.S.This Friday, the world will remember the unspeakable tragedy of the Holocaust on International Holocaust Remembrance Day. I would request that this Council now undertake a moment of silence in recognition of this important day. That is how we must strive together to fulfill the promise of Never Again. Chairman, when genocide, crimes against humanity, and other atrocities are being committed anywhere, we must continue to ask ourselves about the consequences of our action-and our inaction. Here at the OAS, we acknowledge the appointment of Fernando Lottenberg as Commissioner to Monitor and Combat Anti-Semitism, whose fundamental responsibility is to join forces in the Western Hemisphere to confront the scourge of discrimination and harm. We have also secured the largest increase in funding ever for the physical security of non-profits – including synagogues and Jewish Community Centers. We are developing a national strategy to fight antisemitism. They only hide – waiting to re-emerge whenever they are given just a little bit of oxygen.Īs part of our efforts to respond, the United States has taken action by appointing the first Ambassador-level Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Antisemitism. Sadly, even here in my own country, we have seen over and over again that hate and antisemitism never go away. Chair, the legacy of the Holocaust makes it all the more important for us to reflect on more contemporary cases of genocide and hate, particularly as we mark the 30th anniversary of the Rwandan genocide this coming year. It also means doing our part to ensure that remaining survivors receive some measure of justice and the support they need to live out their lives in dignity. It means condemning any attempts to deny the occurrence of the Holocaust. In our own time, this means choosing to confront bigotry and hatred in all of its forms – including anti-Semitism. The noble acts of courage performed by liberators, rescuers, and the Righteous Among Nations remind us that we are never powerless. Yet, even on this occasion of remembrance, there is room for hope. The testimonies of survivors and their descendants remind us to be vigilant in defending the dignity and human rights of all. We also honor the survivors among us who bear witness and inspire us all to stand against antisemitism and other forms of hate in today’s world.Īs that survivor generation now passes into history, we must find new ways to educate future generations about the Holocaust. We mark International Holocaust Remembrance Day by honoring the memories of the six million Jews and others systematically persecuted and murdered by the Nazis and their collaborators. Chair, I take the floor under Other Business to highlight the commemoration of International Holocaust Remembrance Day, which was designated as January 27 by the United Nations General Assembly in 2005.

International holocaust remembrance day 2003