The Holocaust remains one of the most devastating crimes in human history. Six million Jews were murdered, alongside millions of other victims — Roma and Sinti, people with disabilities, political opponents, LGBTQ+ individuals and many others targeted by an ideology built on hatred, exclusion and dehumanisation.

These crimes were not inevitable; they were the result of political decisions, social indifference and the systematic erosion of human dignity.

Today, as antisemitism, racism and extremism are once again visible across many societies, the relevance of this day is unmistakable.

Antisemitic incidents are rising globally, while historical knowledge about the Holocaust is declining — particularly among younger generations. At the same time, misinformation, relativisation and denial spread rapidly through digital spaces, challenging the foundations of democratic discourse.

The International Day of Commemoration reminds us that memory is not passive. It is a form of vigilance.

Remembering the Holocaust means recognising early warning signs — the normalisation of hate speech, the questioning of human rights, the exclusion of minorities, the weakening of democratic institutions. History teaches us that such developments do not begin with violence; they begin with words, with silence, and with looking away.

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Education therefore remains central to remembrance. Institutions and memorial sites throughout Europe preserve testimonies and personal stories, ensuring that the victims are remembered not as statistics, but as individuals — with names, lives and dreams. This human perspective is essential in an age where abstraction and distance too easily replace empathy.

Commemorating the victims of the Holocaust also means reflecting on our own responsibility today. Democracy, freedom and human rights cannot be taken for granted. They must be protected, defended and lived — in political decisions, in public debate and in everyday interactions.

On this day, we remember the victims and honour the survivors. But above all, we reaffirm a commitment to act: to oppose antisemitism and discrimination, to stand up for human dignity, and to ensure that remembrance remains a living force in our societies.

Memory does not belong to the past alone. It shapes the choices we make today — and the future we are responsible for building.