<
 
 
 
 
×
>
You are viewing an archived web page, collected at the request of United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) using Archive-It. This page was captured on 03:54:35 Oct 02, 2016, and is part of the UNESCO collection. The information on this web page may be out of date. See All versions of this archived page.
Loading media information hide
Welcome to the United Nations. It's your world.
 

International Day of Commemoration
in memory of the victims of the Holocaust

2010 Holocaust Remembrance
Activities around the world

The global network of United Nations information centres (UNICs), United Nations Information Service (UNIS) and United Nations Offices (UNO) observed the International Day of Commemoration in memory of the victims of the Holocaust in 2009 in partnership with civil society groups and Government representatives.

 

UNIC Ankara translated the Secretary-General's message for the International Day of Commemoration into Turkish and distributed it to the Turkish media.

UNO Azerbaijan (Baku) organised a screening of the film “One Survivor Remembers” and conducted an interactive discussion at Zarifa Aliyeva School to promote a broader understanding of the Holocaust among the Azeri youth. The event was covered by Trend.az; Olaylar.az; AzTV; Azeraijan-news.az; Azertag.az; Assa-Irada News Bulletin and Azerbaijan Newspaper.  

UNIC Asuncion: The Paraguayan Congress, in partnership with the Israeli Consulate and the Office of the United Nations Resident Programme, hosted an event to mark the International Day of Commemoration. Guest speakers included the President of the Congress, two senators, the Ambassador of Israel, the Minister of Education, the UN Resident Coordinator and Holocaust survivors and the UN Resident Coordinator who delivered the Secretary-General’s message prepared for the day. Representatives of the diplomatic corps, religious groups, and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) attended the event.

UNIC Bogota: UNIC Bogota, in partnership with the Israeli Embassy, the Ministry of Education, the Aviatur Foundation and the Jewish community organised a special event titled “Cartas para Ana Frank – Letters to Anne Frank”. Students from across the country were invited to write a letter to Anne Frank about human rights. Distinguished guests included Vice President Francisco Santos, Former President  Cecilia María Vélez , Minister of Education Cecilia María Vélez, Belisario Betancourt, Ambassador Meron Reuben of Israel and UN Resident Coordinator Bruno Moro. Students and Holocaust survivors attended the event.

UNIC Brazzaville held a remembrance ceremony and a three-day exhibition, which ran from 27-29 January 2010. The Minister of Education opened the ceremony, which featured a screening of the film “Footprints”. The UN Resident Coordinator delivered the Secretary-General’s message for the day. Heads of UN Agencies, a representative from the South Africa Embassy and the media attended the event.

UNIC Bucharest in partnership with the Elie Wiesel Institute organised the exhibition titled “How was it possible?” Vasile Timis, the Secretary of State from the Ministry of Culture, opened the exhibition and commended UNIC for commemorating for the third consecutive International Day of Commemoration. Almost 200 people attended the event. UNIC Bucharest also organised a screening of the film As Seen Through These Eyes (directed by Hilary Helstein), which was promoted on Facebook.

UNRIC Brussels organised a film screening as part of the 21st edition of CINE-ONU to raise awareness of the International Day of Commemoration.  The film As Seen Through These Eyes was screened, followed by an interactive discussion moderated by film director Hilary Helstein. Over 200 people from NGOs, the European Union, academic institutions and the general public attended the event.

The Secretary-General's message for the International Day of Commemoration to honour the victims of the Holocaust, was translated in Nordic languages, disseminated and posted on the UNRIC Nordic-language websites.

UNIC Buenos Aires, in collaboration with the Buenos Aires Shoah Museum (Museo del Holocaust Buenos Aires), carried out a joint information campaign to mark the International Day of Commemoration. Online and print educational materials produced by the Holocaust and the United Nations Outreach Programme was disseminated to NGOs and educational institutions. A web page with links educational resources  was also created to mark the day with links to the Secretary-Generals message for the day, and

UNIC Bujumbura broadcasted a story about the Holocaust to mark the day. The story stressed the importance of sharing survivor stories encourage respect for diversity and human rights. UNIC also arranged for the publication of the Secretary-General’s message in "Le Renouveau du Burundi”, a major daily newspaper and a broadcast by three local radio stations.

The National Information Officer of UNIC Colombo was interviewed in a live half-hour TV programme about the International Day of Commemoration and its significance. The Centre issued a backgrounder and translated the Secretary-General’s message into the local languages of Sinhala and Tamil. 

UNIC Dakar organised a month-long photo and poster exhibition to raise awareness about the Holocaust. 

UNIC Dar es Salaam organised an educational programme at the UNIC library for local primary and secondary schools. The programme included poem recitals and film screenings about Holocaust survivors. Over 80 students attended the event.

UNO Eritrea (Asmara), in cooperation with Ministry of Education and Ministry of Labour and Human Welfare, distributed the Secretary-General’s message for the International Day.

UNIC Kathmandu organised an inter-college roundtable discussion under the theme “Social Harmony in Nepal”. Thirty students from the “Young Debaters of Nepal” participated in the event. Following the debate, the students participated in a screening of the DVD Footprints. In addition, a screening of the film Defiance was organised for UN staff, the media and the general public.

UNO Ukraine (Kyiv) supported the Ukrainian Center for Holocaust Studies in organising the annual roundtable meeting “Ukrainian Society and Holocaust Commemoration: Educational Perspective”. A Communication Officer from UNO spoke at the event and delivered the Secretary-General’s message prepared for the day.

UNIC Lagos organised a film screening for 64 students and teachers from local secondary schools in Lagos. In opening remarks, the UNIC Officer-in-Charge delivered the Secretary-General’s message and spoke about the history of the Holocaust. Two films about the Holocaust were screened: The Holocaust and the United Nations, and Hana’s Suitcase. The screenings were followed by an interactive discussion.

UNIC La Paz disseminated the Secretary-General’s message the day of Commemoration to journalists in the country.

UNIC Lome organised a screening of the film La Shoah, an exhibition of Auschwitz and a discussion session at local schools. The NIO moderated the discussion series which took place at two secondary schools: CEG Tokoin Solidarité and Lycee de Nyékonakpoén which were followed by a screening of the film La Shoah. The lecture was followed by the film La Shoah. The Secretary-General’s message was disseminated to journalists in the country.

UNIC Lusaka, in partnership with the Youth United Nations Association of Zambia (YUNA) and the University of Zambia YUNA chapter, organised a remembrance ceremony for students around the country. Russian Ambassador Boris Malakov delivered the keynote address which followed by remarks by family members of Holocaust survivors. The ceremony featured a video screening of Hanna's Suitcase, followed by an interactive discussion period.

UNIC Mexico City disseminated the Secretary-General’s message for the International Day to participants at various events including events organised by the International Christian Embassy Jerusalem and the Mexico City Human Rights Commission. 

UNIC Nairobi, in collaboration with the Israeli Embassy, organised an event on 27 January 2010 to honour the Victims of the Holocaust. Guest speakers included Mr. Ezra Pakter, a Holocaust survivor; Israeli Ambassador Jacob Keida; German Ambassador Margit Hellwig-Boette; and Dr. David Silverstein, who represented the Jewish community. . UNON Executive Director General Achim Steiner delivered the Secretary-General’s message for the day. Over 500 people attended the ceremony, including members of the diplomatic corps, and students from the Kenya Model United Nations (KMUN), Riara Primary School, Nairobi Primary School, Laiser Hill Secondary school, and Strathmore University. Each of the 500 guests lit a candle in memory of the victims.

UNIC Ouagadougou, in partnership with the University of Ouagadougou, organised an exhibit of posters, photos, films and brochures, which took place on 27 January. The exhibit, held at the University of Ouagadougou, received 5,282 visitors. Among the guests were government officials, researchers, students, members of international and regional organizations, NGOs and journalists.

UNIC Panama City, in close collaboration with Jewish Panamanian Congress, Amigos de Yad Vashem Panamá and the Regional Union of Jewish Congregation, organised a screening of the film A Bisele Mazel to mark the international day. The Israeli Ambassador delivered remarks. The National Information Officer also spoke and delivered the Secretary-General’s message prepared for the day. The screening was followed by a question and answer session.

UNIC Port of Spain disseminated the Secretary-General’s message for the day to the media and UNIC partners.

UNIC Pretoria commemorated the International Day with a screening of the film The Short Life of Anne Frank and an exhibition. The UNIC Director delivered opening remarks and the message of the Secretary-General prepared for the day. Information packages were disseminated to the students and teachers who attended the event.

UNO Georgia (Tbilisi) organised a screening of a Holocaust-related documentary which took place at a local public school. The Secretary-General’s message was also translated into the local language and disseminated.

UNIC Tokyo translated the Secretary-General’s message into Japanese and featured the observance on its “E-news”.

UNIS Vienna organised an event which featured a screening of the film As Seen Through These Eyes, followed by a discussion period. The Secretary-General’s message was translated into German, Hungarian, Slovak and Slovene.

UNIC Windhoek organised a country’s first observance of the International Day in memory of the victims of the Holocaust in partnership with the South African Holocaust Foundation and the National Archives of Namibia. Held at the State Archives the observance included two exhibitions, a screening of the film The Holocaust: Lessons of Humanity  and workshops for students from local schools. 

UNIC Yangon together with the Israeli and German Embassies organised the country’s first observance which was held at the Strand Hotel in Yangon. The event featured a panel discussion around the theme "Holocaust Remembrance: the Legacy of Survival".  

UNIC Yaounde disseminated the Secretary-General’s message prepared for the day to the media, schools, universities and Government officials.