The United Nations (UN) on Tuesday called for multilateral efforts toward ending all forms of racism, prejudice, and religious bigotry.
The organisation made the call in Abuja at an event organised by the UN Information Centre in collaboration with UNESCO, the German and Israeli embassies to mark the International Day for the Commemoration of the victims of the Holocaust.
The Day with the theme, “Holocaust Remembrance for Dignity and Human Rights” focused on briefing students about lessons of the Holocaust and fight against discrimination, religious intolerance, harassment, mass violence, and hate speech.
The UN Secretary-General, António Guterres, in a virtual address said the Day often celebrated annually on Jan. 27, seeks to remind people about the dangers of holocaust and the need to prevent future acts of genocide.
Guiteres said, “We stand alongside victims, survivors, and their families, and renew our resolve never to forget as to allow the holocaust fade from memory would dishonour the past and betray the future.
“To know the history of the holocaust is to know the depths to which humanity can sink and understand how the Nazis committed their heinous crimes with the complicity of others.
“To comprehend that each of us has a solemn duty to speak-up against hate and stand-up for the human rights of all.
“We must stand up to these outrages; In these days of division and more than a year since the appalling Oct. 7 terror attacks by Hamas.
“We must hold fast to our common humanity.
“We must condemn anti-semitism just as we must condemn all forms of racism, prejudice, and religious bigotry and we must renew our resolve to defend the dignity and human rights of all.”
The Israeli Deputy-High Commissioner, Ms Inbar Garden, recounted the Jewish men, women, and children murdered in the holocaust, alongside millions of others who suffered under the Nazi regime, saying through collective efforts such occurrences would be prevented.
“We honour their memory not only to mourn their loss but to reaffirm our commitment to ensuring that such atrocities never happen again.
“The holocaust is not just a chapter of Jewish history; it is a universal reminder of the devastating consequences of hatred, discrimination and indifference.
“It compels us to reflect on our shared responsibility to fight antisemitism, racism and all forms of intolerance wherever they may arise,” she said.
Mr Mathias Dold, First Secretary of German Embassy, decried the 1933 to 1945 holocaust which he said marked the darkest period across Europe under Nazi Germany and other racist states.
“This is without a doubt Germany’s darkest hour and worst crime ever committed by the then national socialist Nazi government, since the history of the world.
“Beside Jews, other minors were murdered including half a million Roma and Sinti, Persons With Disabilities (PWD), communists, prisoners of war, political enemies and all those the Nazis considered unworthy,” Dold stated.
Meanwhile, Mr Mendy Albert, Officer -in-charge of UNESCO Country office in Nigeria, described the event as apt in bolstering efforts to end all forms of Holocaust.
Albert, represented by Anthony Ogunniyi, UNESCO Programme Officer in Abuja, urged people to reflect more on the consequences of hatred, discrimination and intolerance, and rather embrace collective responsibility through peaceful co-existence and education.
Albert said, “UNESCO, as the lead agency for education within the UN system believes that education is the most powerful tool for building a just and peaceful world.
“Education for peace is not just about imparting knowledge; it is shaping attitudes, values and behaviors that promote dialogue, understanding and cooperation among individuals and societies.”
The event which the marked 80th anniversary since the Holocaust occurred attracted envoy of Canada, as well as representatives of the U.S. embassy and the National Human Rights Commission. (NAN)
