The UN Office (UNO) Yerevan partnered with the Embassies of Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Germany, Lithuania, Poland, Romania and Ukraine in observing the International Day of Commemoration in memory of the victims of the Holocaust. 

From now until April, through the international film festival “Conflict and Reconciliation in the Central-Eastern European Cinema”, the Armenian public, and particularly youth, are observing, via cinematography, lessons learned from various conflicts in that  part of the world.

In tribute to the memory of Holocaust victims, the 2013 theme is “Rescue during the Holocaust: the Courage to Care” remembering those who risked their lives to save innocent people from almost certain death during the war.

UN Resident Coordinator a.i. Henriette Ahrens opened the Festival noting that “Art is a powerful tool.  Many of these films are shown for the first time in Armenia and they are featuring touching human stories.  Let us be inspired by those who had the courage to care – the ordinary people who took extraordinary steps to defend human dignity.  Their examples can help us build a better world today.” The Ambassadors of Poland and Ukraine also addressed the audience with short speeches.

On February 13, the Moscow Cinema management offered free-of-charge screenings to the opening film “Three Stories of Galicia”.

UNO widely promoted the Festival launch through traditional and social media, speaking at several morning and prime time television news programmes. 

UNO Yerevan produced a banner and posters for distribution at universities and cultural centres, issued a press release and invited journalists to attend.

From now until April 10, 2013, eight more award-winning films produced by prominent film-makers from Europe and the USA, covering sensitive topics, such as conflict, reconciliation, human bravery and compassion will be screened in the Red Hall II of the “Moscow” cinema, with "The Rescuers" closing the festival. 

On 7 February, the UN Information Centre (UNIC) in Bogota, Apostolic Enunciator in Colombia, Israeli Embassy and Jewish Community Human Relations Office commemorated the International Day of Commemoration in Memory of the Victims of the Holocaust with an emotional event at the Apostolic Nunciaturein, which recalled the 11 million people who perished during World War II. 

With 21 painful and heartbreaking testimonies, the book “Holocaust Survivors That Rebuilt Their Lives in Colombia” was launched at the event. Survivors described their arrival in Colombia, their impression of the unknown land, language and foreign practices. Each testimony acknowledged the warmth and fraternity in which they were received, most welcomed after their experiences during the War. 

The exhibition of posters entitled “Exceptional Virtues” was on display to commemorate the non-Jewish heroes who risked their own lives to defend and care for many Jewish victims.

“We wish that this subject is well addressed and taught in Colombian schools, so that the lessons we have received from these events won’t be forgotten and young people can understand the consequences of blind fanaticism”, stated Israel Ambassador Yoed Magen.

In the presence of 18 Holocaust survivors were many other important figures, including the Polish and German Ambassadors. 

The UN Information Centre (UNIC) in Lima observed the International Day of Commemoration in memory of the victims of the Holocaust in cyberspace.

To mark the liberation of the Auschwitz death camp, UNIC launched a Spanish language Facebook campaign on the Holocaust.

It published photographs of "Holocaust rescuers" and by inviting friends to identify the various heroes, encouraged learning about them and their amazing feats. UNIC also called on participants submit to campaign slogans that would best highlight the initiative.

After much deliberation, the best slogan was: "Six million reasons to not forget, to celebrate life, for hope", penned by Alonso Gurmendi and Nelly Shisco (pictured). 

The winners received their prizes at the Centre from UNIC Information Officer Christian Sanchez. They both spoke about the importance of remembering the Holocaust to prevent future acts of genocide.

The UN Office (UNO) in Almaty observed Holocaust Remembrance Day in two locations.

On 29 January, UNO co-organized a memorial ceremony in Astana at Kazakh National University of Arts with the Embassies of Israel, the United States, Italy, Poland, Sweden, Hungary and the Netherlands.  

“Witnesses to the Holocaust are getting fewer in number, and it is our duty to keep the memory and to pass it to the children to prevent recurrence of this tragedy in future” noted Israeli Ambassador Eliyahu Tasman.

Special prayers were said, classical music performed live and excerpts from Holocaust victims’ poems recited by students in English, Russian, Hebrew, Polish, German, and Hungarian.  Additionally, photographs taken during the war were displayed at a special exhibition in the foyer.

The commemorative event culminated with the presentation of a documentary film about Anne Frank, who hid in the Netherlands for 25 months before being arrested in August 1944 and sent to Auschwitz where she died in March 1945.

In Almaty, UNO organized commemorative events to honour those who risked their own lives to save tens of thousands of Jews, Roma and Sinti from the Nazis. On 3 February, a screening of “The Rescuers” was organized at “Mitsva” Association of Kazakhstan.

Jointly commemorating the International Day of Remembrance of the Holocaust and the World Interfaith Harmony Week the message “Rescue during the Holocaust: The Courage to Care” rang true.

Candles were lit in memory of holocaust victims and after the film the moral courage of twelve diplomats who saved Jewish lives during World War II was discussed.  

Eduard Kaukin, who as a young boy survived the horrors of the death camps said “I am extremely grateful to these brave diplomats who helped to save lives of so many people. I only regret that there were not more such courageous diplomats in those difficult times”.

Anastasia Borovikova, a student, added that “bravery of the twelve diplomats, who risked their lives and careers should become a shining example to the young generation”. She also pointed out that World War II and the conflict in Rwanda were important reminders that our world permanently needs peace.