International Day of Commemoration

in Memory of the Victims

of the Holocaust, in Nairobi

State House Girls High School students at the event

 

In 2005, the United Nations General Assembly designated this day as International Holocaust Remembrance Day (IHRD).

 

The United Nations Information Centre (UNIC) Nairobi, in collaboration with the Embassies of the Federal Republic of Germany and Israel, observed the fifth International Day of Commemoration in Memory of the Victims of the Holocaust at the State House Girls High School in Nairobi on 27 January 2011, under the theme:

“Women and the Holocaust: Courage and Compassion”.  

 

 

The solemn function was attended by about eight hundred guests including members of the diplomatic corps and students from State House Girls High School, among others.  The main ceremony was kicked off by a song from the students which complemented the theme of the Day, highlighting some of the attributes of women and girls, such as perseverance and dedication which help them get through some difficult situations.

In their speeches, the Ambassadors of the embassies of the Federal Republic of Germany and Israel shared their first hand knowledge about the holocaust, underlining the need to learn from the lessons of the atrocities committed during that time..

Educating young people to better understand the evils of the holocaust, particularly towards women and girls, would contribute to the prevention of future holocausts, guests were reminded..

The main message from all the speakers was that history should never be forgotten since it helped to shape the future, thus testimonies from the survivors should remind everyone of their role to embrace diversity in order to uphold human dignity.

The UN Secretary-General’s message was presented by the Chief in the Director-General’s Offices at UNON.

All the six guest speakers each lit a candle in remembrance of the six million victims of the holocaust. This was followed by an observance of a minute of since to honour the victims.

The girls concluded the ceremony with a song calling on everyone to become instruments of love in order for peace to prevail in the world.

Prior to the main ceremony, students were taken through a-one hour presentation on the history of the Holocaust by the Deputy Ambassador of the Embassy of Israel..

UNIC Nairobi selected the girls school to launch the new study guide and DVD with survivors’ testimonies, which was screened after the closure of the official ceremony. The DVD helped the students understand further the ways in which the holocaust affected women. The study guide will be taken to other schools throughout the year.

 

 

In the meantime, an exhibition on the holocaust has been mounted at UNON and will run for one week.

 

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A Celebration of Women

sends our blessings to all the Women of our World

that have been affected in any way by this memory of horror; and pray it never to happen again!