Whether your council has never marked Holocaust Memorial Day (HMD), has taken part in the past, or has marked it many times, we encourage you to get involved in 2023.
With just more than two weeks to go, there are still ways you can take part.
HMD is the international day, on 27 January, to remember the six million Jews murdered during the Holocaust, the millions of people killed under Nazi persecution of other groups, and in more recent genocides in Cambodia, Rwanda, Bosnia and Darfur.
In 2022, almost two-thirds of local authorities marked HMD and this year, with your help, we hope to increase that number.
HMD is an occasion for your council to join with thousands of people to learn more about the past and to take action to build stronger communities and create a safer future, free from genocide and other forms of identity-based hostility.
The theme for HMD 2023 is ‘Ordinary People’. It is ordinary people who make a difference to our local communities and organisations, and on HMD it is ordinary people who drive activities and events, lead community commemorations, and support and encourage everyone around them to take part in remembrance and education.
We are all ordinary people, and we can be extraordinary in our actions by challenging prejudice, standing up to hatred and speaking out against identity-based persecution.
HMD activities take place in councils, prisons, schools, libraries, faith centres and elsewhere from December to February.
We have designed resources to support a range of events, from flag lowering, lighting up buildings in purple, or making the ‘Statement of Commitment’ to remember all victims of Nazi persecution and all genocides in your next council meeting, to collaborative projects with community groups, libraries and the arts, and civic ceremonies involving key members of the community, MPs, local schools and others.
At a time of unprecedented pressure, we have produced resources to help you mark HMD in a way that is sensitive to these circumstances, including:
- An HMD blog template – ready to use with key information about HMD, our logo, and room to add yours. There is space to add a message from you, more information about local activities in your area and information about the UK Ceremony. The blog comes with a social media graphic, so you can draw attention to your HMD activity via your social channels.
- Ordinary People film – a short film including experiences of Holocaust survivor Dr Martin Stern MBE and Amouna Adam, a survivor of the genocide in Darfur. You will hear from celebrities and key figures. This can be shared internally and/or externally, on your intranet pages and newsletters, or on social media and in public areas on screens, with subtitles.
- MP letter template – raise the profile of HMD and ensure decision-makers join us in learning from genocide for a better future by inviting them to your activity. It can be sent as an email and easily edited and used for other key stakeholders.
Visit our website to explore these and other resources – including the ‘Getting involved guide’ for local authorities – and order free stickers and booklets.
And please, remember to let us know your plans.