Camden commemorates Holocaust Memorial Day
This week Camden marked Holocaust Memorial Day at an event dedicated to remembering the six million Jews murdered during the Holocaust, and the millions of people killed during Nazi persecution and in genocides in Cambodia, Rwanda, Bosnia and Darfur. Monday 27 January marked the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau, the largest Nazi death camp.
The theme for Holocaust Memorial Day 2025 was “For a Better Future”, calling on everyone to question what can be learnt from the atrocities committed in the Holocaust in order to create a better future.
Camden Council, in partnership with the Jewish Museum London, JW3 and the Wiener Holocaust Library, held a special event to mark the Day for communities and partners to come together, remember and honour victims of genocide, and reflect on this year’s theme.
Held at the Council Chamber on Judd Street, members of the public viewed exhibits before taking their seats to watch proceedings, which included a poignant performance from the choirs of Belsize Square and West London synagogues and musicians BRELF Strings.
Speakers in attendance included Lord Alf Dubs, who arrived in the UK in 1939 as a six-year-old refugee fleeing the persecution of Jews in Nazi-occupied Czechoslovakia. He was one of the 669 children who escaped the Holocaust on trains from Prague organised by Sir Nicholas Winton. In 2016 it was Lord Dubs’ amendment to the Immigration Act which resulted in the Government committing to offer safe refuge to unaccompanied migrant children.
Also welcomed was Marie-Rose Rurangirwa, from the Ishami Foundation, who is a survivor of the Rwandan genocide. She lost half her family at the age of nine in a genocide which claimed the lives of over a million innocent people, and spoke powerfully in her speech “Lessons from Rwanda”.
Camden’s Interfaith Network, including Interfaith Chairs and religious leaders, were also in attendance. The Network brings together representatives from faith and community organisations to foster interfaith dialogue.
“We’re grateful to have held this special event, where we remembered the millions of victims and survivors of The Holocaust and genocides around the world. At Camden we’re proud to come together as diverse communities to reflect on this day and learn how build a better future together.”
“This year’s theme for Holocaust Memorial Day, “For a Better Future”, reminds us that we must unite against prejudice and hate to secure a safer and better future for all. Camden is no place for hate, and our diversity is our strength.
“Camden will not tolerate hate and division. We work closely with our community leaders, our faith leaders and our residents throughout the year and today we’ve come together to listen, learn and reflect. We are at our strongest when we stand together united against hate.”
Camden is no place for hate - reporting a hate crime
We are here for you. There are different ways you can safely and confidentially report a hate crime through the Council, Police or an organisation that you feel safe speaking to:
- Community Security Trust protect Jewish people from anti-Semitism and discrimination. You can report to them at cst.org.uk/report-incident or call 0800 032 3263
- Tell MAMA is a support service that monitors and measures Islamophobia. You can report to them at tellmamauk.org or call 0800 456 1226
- To see other ways you can report a hate crime, the full list of partners we work with and available support, please visit camden.gov.uk/hate-crime