Educating for a Better Future : the Role of Historical Sites and Museums in Holocaust Education
Those who deny or relativize the crimes of the Holocaust seek to perpetuate the causes of genocide and to revive violence. Education remains the last bastion to protect us against this threat, and this is where UNESCO’s mission takes on its full significance. Irina Bokova, UNESCO Director-General
Every year around 27 January, UNESCO pays tribute to the memory of the victims of the Holocaust and reaffirms its commitment to counter antisemitism, racism and all other forms of intolerance that may lead to group targeted violence. 27 January marks the anniversary of the liberation of the Nazi German Concentration and Extermination Camp of Auschwitz-Birkenau by the Soviet troops in 1945 and was officially proclaimed International Day of Commemoration in Memory of the Victims of the Holocaust by the United Nations General Assembly. This year’s International Day is placed under the theme “Educating for a Better Future: The Role of Historical Sites and Museums in Holocaust Education”.
Beyond their initial function to bear witness to the crimes perpetrated, memorial sites play a fundamental role in educating about the genocide of the Jewish people and other crimes perpetrated by the Nazi regime and its collaborators. Memorial sites combine the functions of education, cultural and research centers as well as museums. They ensure capacity building for education stakeholders, produce education resources and, due in part to the particular learning experience they provide, are laboratories for innovative pedagogies. The International Day will highlight their indispensable role, and examine how memorials and museums tackle contemporary issues with young people, helping them to make sense of the past and be more active citizens in today’s societies.
Related information
Message
Resources
UN and UNESCO Resolutions
- UN Resolution 60/7 - Holocaust Remembrance (2005)
- UN Resolution 61/255 - Holocaust Denial (2007)
- UNESCO Resolution 61 - Holocaust Remembrance (2007)
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Mémorial de la Shoah
- Visit the web site
- Discover the exhibition on Shoah and comics
Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum
With the support of
- Permanent Delegation of France to UNESCO
- Permanent Delegation of Monaco to UNESCO
- Metin Arditi, UNESCO Special Envoy For Intercultural Dialogue
In coordination with
- The United Nations Outreach Programme
- View 2017 events
- Live and on-demand webcast on UN Web TV
- The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
- Exhibition 'State of Deception: The Power of Nazi Propaganda' at Paris Town Hall