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Holocaust Memorial Day Statement & Resources
27 January marks the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau, the largest Nazi death camp. Every year on this day Holocaust Memorial Day (HMD) takes place.
In the words of the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust: “Holocaust Memorial Day is the day for everyone to remember the millions of people murdered in the Holocaust, under Nazi Persecution, and in the genocides which followed in Cambodia, Rwanda, Bosnia, and Darfur.”
In remembering the six million Jewish people murdered during the Nazi Holocaust between 1941-1945, we also stand in solidarity with survivors, their descendants, and all those whose lives were changed beyond recognition.
The Holocaust warns us of where discrimination, hatred and the seeds of division can
lead and so, on this day, the NEU reaffirms its longstanding commitment to tackling the racism, prejudices and injustices that blight our society.This commitment must be a continued and shared process, so this year’s HMD theme, “Be the Light in the Darkness”, rightly calls every one of us to action to consider the different kinds of “darkness” in the world and to explore ways of “being the light”, for example through solidarity, acts of resistance and by illuminating mistruths.
As part of this process, we encourage members to utilise resources that the National Education Union (NEU) has created to support lessons around the Holocaust, racism, and civil and human rights. Links to these resources are set out below, alongside links to other teaching and learning resources recommended by the NEU’s Equalities, Social Justice, and International (ESJI) department.
In solidarity and remembrance,
Mary Bousted & Kevin Courtney
Resources:
- Holocaust Memorial Day Trust | Resources
HMDT Resources support teachers and learners to find out more about the Holocaust and genocide and plan HMD activities through exploring the life stories of survivors and those who were murdered, schools materials, activity ideas, films, images and more - Mosaic – victims of Nazi persecution
A comprehensive set of teaching resources on the Holocaust and Nazi persecution, produced by the NEU and Holocaust Educational Trust. - Our Histories – Teaching Pack for KS1 and KS2
A teaching pack created by the NEU recognising diverse cultural events in January and February 2021 including Holocaust Memorial Day, Black History Month around the world, Chinese New year and LGBT+ History Month. - TUC – Talking About Antisemitism
A TUC guide for union reps to discussing and tackling antisemitism in the workplace.
- Holocaust Memorial Day Trust | Resources

International: Affiliations
Solidarity is at the heart of the NEU, be that domestically or internationally, internally or externally. We work in partnership with a variety of international campaigns and organisations to deliver our goals and theirs.