Minute of silence in memory of Holocaust victims at UN General Assembly. UN honors Holocaust victims: defend human rights and combat anti-Semitism Human Rights
UN Secretary-General António Guterres delivered an emotional speech on Monday at the General Assembly meeting dedicated to the memory of the victims of the Holocaust. His call for remembrance, global unity against anti-Semitism and protection of human rights came on International Holocaust Remembrance Day. The General Assembly meeting was attended by Holocaust survivors, their descendants and diplomats from dozens of countries.
António Guterres began his speech by reflecting on the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau, stressing the need to perpetuate the memory of the six million Jews murdered by the Nazis, as well as the millions of other victims of fascism, including Roma, people with disabilities and members of sexual minorities.
“Remembrance is not only a moral duty. Remembrance is a call to action, Guterres said. To forget the Holocaust is to insult the past and betray the future.”
To forget the Holocaust is to insult the past and betray the future
The UN chief commended Holocaust survivors for their courage in speaking out about the horrors they endured, noting that their testimonies play a key role in preserving memory. “But,” he added, “the responsibility to preserve memory rests with each of us.”
The Threat of Anti-Semitism
The Secretary-General condemned the growing threat of anti-Semitism, noting that it is “fueled by the same hateful lies that made the Nazi genocide possible.”
António Guterres has criticized Holocaust denial and distortion, warning that attempts to minimize or erase historical truth threaten the moral foundations of humanity. “Indisputable historical facts are being distorted, minimized and denied,” he said. “Efforts are being made to rehabilitate Nazis and their collaborators. We must confront these challenges.”
Looking back at the founding of the United Nations 80 years ago, António Guterres noted key milestones including the adoption of the UN Charter, the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which he called “a clear expression of our common human dignity.”
Challenges of the Times
Speaking of the challenges of the times, Guterres painted a grim picture of growing hatred and division in the world. The UN chief emphasized the leading role of education in combating prejudice and promoting respect for human dignity. “Every one of us must rise to this challenge: to expose lies, to confront hatred, and to ensure that our common humanity transcends the barriers that divide us,” he said.
The Secretary-General announced stepped-up UN efforts through initiatives such as Holocaust education programmes and the recently launched Action Plan to Combat Anti-Semitism, which aims to strengthen the UN’s commitment to combating hatred and advancing the truth.
“These goals are at the heart of everything the United Nations does,” Guterres said. “We will never forget. And we will never turn back.”