A United Nations General Assembly resolution from 2005 designated 27 January as the International Holocaust Remembrance Day, commemorating the genocide that resulted in the death of an estimated six million Jewish, Romani and other people.
The Holocaust shook civilizing to its core and left a permanent scar on the face of Europe. It represents the unquestionably darkest moment in our history as well as a complete negation of humanity, all cultural and civilizational achievements, and fundamental moral values.
In 2020, when we commemorate the 75th anniversary of Auschwitz–Birkenau liberation, we are unfortunately witnesses that antisemitism and other forms of discrimination and hate speech are still present worldwide. It is therefore necessary to educate younger generations about the suffering, humiliation and slaughter of millions of innocent victims so as to raise awareness about the need to develop pluralistic, democratic and inclusive societies.
Croatia, as a member of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA), has been recognized as a country actively involved in the Holocaust education, research and commemoration. Together with the other member countries, it participated 19 January in reaching a ministerial declaration calling for preserving the memory of the six million Jewish and other victims of the Nazi regime, and will continue to promote truths about the Holocaust as well as fight all forms of racism and discrimination.
To commemorate the International Holocaust Remembrance Day, an exhibition by Croatia’s Branka Sömen titled “Righteous among the Nations – Croatia” will be opened at the UN headquarters in New York. The exhibition has been co-organized with Yad Vashem and speaks of 47 of the overall 118 Croatian Righteous, who risked their lives to save Jews during the Holocaust.
In May, a seminar will be held in Zagreb and Jasenovac under the title “Commemoration and Its Importance Today: 75 Years after the Holocaust”.
The International Holocaust Remembrance Day is also to be marked by Croatian state officials. Prime Minister Andrej Plenković, at the invitation of the World Jewish Congress, will take part in the commemoration at Auschwitz-Birkenau, while President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović, at the invitation of Israeli President Reuven Rivlin participated together with a number of world leaders in a commemoration at Yad Vashem.