Holocaust Memorial Day is held on the 27th January each year. This marks the anniversary of the liberation of the Nazi concentration camp Auschwitz-Birkenau. 

Holocaust Memorial Day remembers the past and looks at how we can make our communities happier and free from discrimination. It commemorates and teaches about the lives of those lost in the Holocaust. The day also promotes action in the UK to highlight the dangers of racism, anti-semitism and all forms of discrimination. 

Holocaust Memorial Day must remind and motivate people to ensure that the horrendous crimes of the Holocaust and more recent genocides are not forgotten or repeated. It is essential that we all work together to prevent tragedies like those of Cambodia, Bosnia, Rwanda and Darfurd from happening again and help create a better future.

The Holocaust Memorial Day Trust (HMDT) is a national charity formed in 2005. It is responsible for the national commemoration of Holocaust Memorial Day, which is held in a different part of the UK each year. So far it has been held in London, Manchester, Edinburgh, Belfast, Cardiff and Newcastle. Liverpool will be hosting the national event this year.

Each year, hundreds of events and activities are held to mark Holocaust Memorial Day in local communities and schools across the UK. The Trust also promotes supports and provides these events and projects with free resources.

Events range from civic ceremonies to theatre performances and can be organised by anyone. No event is insignificant and simple individual acts can prove very symbolic- such as lighting a candle or observing a silence.

If you would like to find out more information go to the HMDT website (www.hmd.org.uk) which features images, poetry, survivor testimony, artwork and much more.

At the end of last year HMDT held a short film competition, for young people to create a short film based on the Holocaust Memorial Day 2008 theme “Imagine…remember, reflect, react” or on the objectives of Holocaust Memorial Day. Schools, colleges and local youth groups were invited to take part and entries were received from across the UK. The winning entries are listed below:

Winner (19 - 25 Age Group): 
-  Disability and the Holocaust by Emily Perkins and Ryan Almond.

Winners (13 - 18 Age Group): 
- All Different... But Together by Kim Knight, Amy Cartwright, Owen Donovan and Stacy Wilkinson
- Holocaust Poem by Elish Waller and Georgia Stephenson
- Eternal Flame by Abigail Sharman, Heather Smith and Katie Bloor


To mark Holocaust Memorial Day, The History Channel is dedicating its programming to the Holocaust from 5pm until 12am. Shows will include 'Auschwitz: The Forgotten Evidence', 'Hidden Children' and a new programme shall be premiered - ‘Families who survived the Holocaust.’ These programmes will explore the experiences of actual holocaust victims and give viewers a greater insight into what life was like during the Holocaust.